THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


GINKVRA 

A  Play  of  Mediaeval  Florence 


By 
KDWARD 

Author  of  "Cagliostro",  "Moody  Moments",  "Laying  the  Hero  to  Rest", 

"The  Haunted  Temple  and  Other  Poems",    and 

"The  Comet,  a  Play  of  Our  Times" 


Doyle  &  Company,  Publishers 

247  West  125th  Street 

New  York 

1912 


Copyright,  1911,  by  Edward  Doyle 


Rights  of  dramatic  production  reserved 


AUTHOR'S  NOTE. 

In  "Ginevra"  the  author's  aim  is  to  depict  the  unique  experi 
ence  of  the  noble  young  Florentine  matron  who,  prematurely 
buried  during  the  Plague  of  1400  A.  D.,  escaped  from  the  tomb 
only  to  be  shunned  by  the  living,  and  to  make  every  character 
of  the  play  true  to  the  life  and  ideals  of  the  Middle  Ages. 

He  has  made  use  of  the  appearance  of  the  Crimson  Cross  in 
the  heavens,  to  which  Dante  bears  testimony  in  the  "Convito," 
believing  that  the  meteorological  wonder  with  its  appeal  to  the 
soul  to  look  with  hope  beyond  the  calamities  incident  to  human 
life,  might  serve  as  a  compensating  offset  to  the  appalling  public 
scourge  as  subject-matter  for  a  play. 


CAST  OF  CHARACTERS. 

BERNARDO  AMIERI, 
ANTONIO  RONDINELLI, 
FRANCESCO  AGOLANTI, 
JESTER, 
(PRIEST, 

(  CAPTAIN  OF  THE  BLACK  COMPANY, 
CHIEF  ROYSTERER, 
GINEVRA  AMIERI, 
THE  MOTHER, 
VULMA. 

BLACK  COMPANY,  WHITE  PENITENTS,  ROYSTERERS  AND 

SERVANTS. 

TIME.— 1398-1400  A.  D.  PLACE.— Florence,  Italy. 


GINEVRA 


ACT    I. 


(Hall  in  the  Amieri  Palace.  Tables,  benches  and  cabinets,  all 
richly  carved.  Ginevra,  seated,  plays  softly  on  the  lute. 
The  Mother  enters,  and  lifting  priestly  vestments,  views 
them  admiringly.) 

MOTHER. 

Ginevra,  you  have  your  grandmother's  gift. 
Like  her,  you  make  the  vestments  for  a  priest, 
As  though  they  were  for  a  Bishop ;  for  the  Bishop, 
As  though  they  were  for  the  Pope,  and  for  the  Pope, 
As  though  they  were  for  our  dear  Lord  Himself. 

GINEVRA. 
Precisely. 

MOTHER. 

Surely,  these  are  not  the  vestments 
That  you  are  making  for  our  humble  priest? 

GINEVRA. 
They  are. 

MOTHER. 

Why,  child,  the  dear  good  man  would  part 
With  them  in  a  month,  or  less,  that  with  the  funds 
He  might  relieve  the  suffering  folk  of  Florence! 

GINEVRA. 
True. 

MOTHER. 
He  has  done  it  several  times  already. 

GINEVRA  (ceasing  to  play.) 
I  know  it ;  but  is  he  not  worthy,  mother, 
Of  finer  vestments  every  time  he  sells 
His  altar  robes  to  ease  a  human  ill? 


8  GINEVRA 

MOTHER  (with  feigned  displeasure) 
Oh,  I  suppose,  remonstrance  is  as  useless 
With  you,  as  it  has  always  been  with  him ! 

(She  folds  the  vestments  and  puts  them  away.    Ginevra  resumes 

her  playing  on  the  lute.) 
Dear,  is  the  missal  done? 

GINEVRA. 

Not  yet. 
MOTHER. 

Oh,  dear ! 
(She  picks  up  the  missal.) 

Tis  all  but  finished.    Why  not  finish  it? 

GINEVRA. 

I  tried  and  tried  this  morning,  but  somehow 
My  hand  had  lost  its  cunning  for  the  work. 

MOTHER. 
Dear,  try  again. 

GINEVRA. 

Wait,  let  me  bathe  my  soul 
In  the  lute's  music ;  I  shall  rise  refreshed. 

MOTHER  (after  a  pause.) 
Dear,  it  would  please  me  and  no  less  delight 

Your  father 

GINEVRA  (rising) 
Mother !  how  delight  my  father  ? 
He  never  yet  has  had  one  word  of  praise 
For  anything  I  did,  or  tried  to  do, 
Tho'  oft  my  heart  was  hungry  for  that  word. 

MOTHER. 

There  you  are  wrong,  my  child !    Your  father,  dear, 
Has  watched  your  growth  as  closely  as  the  sun 
Watches  the  flower  from  seed  to  bud  and  bloom. 
Why,  dear,  he  has  been  boasting  that  your  art 
In  book  illumination  is  the  finest 
In  Florence. 


GINEVRA  9 

GINEVRA  (laughing  softly.) 

Oh! 
(Puts  lute  aside.) 

MOTHER. 

He  brings  as  guest  to-day 

A  judge  of  art,  to  show  your  work  to  him. 

GINEVRA. 
To-day? 

MOTHER. 

This  morning.    You  need  have  no  fear. 
Your  work  will  stand  the  test. 

GINEVRA. 

Oh,  'tis  not  that! 

MOTHER. 
What  then  disturbs  you  ? 

GINEVRA. 

Oh,  I  know,  dear  Mother, 
I  should  have  told  you!  but  each  time  I  tried, 
My  tongue  clove  to  the  roof  of  my  parched  mouth. 

MOTHER. 
Keep  nothing  from  your  mother.     Tell  me,  dear! 

GINEVRA. 

Antonio 

MOTHER  (eagerly) 
What  about  him? — 

GINEVRA. 

Is  to  come 

This  morning  and  ask  father  to  consent 
To  our  betrothal. 

MOTHER  (dropping  missal) 

What !    A  Rondinelli ! 

Dissuade  him ;  oh,  dissuade  him !    What  might  happen 
I  dread  to  think,  if  he  should  ever  venture 
Beneath  this  roof  upon  a  quest  so  rash. 


10  GINEVRA 

GINEVRA. 
He  cannot  be  dissuaded. 

MOTHER. 

But  he  must! 
My  child,  he  must ! 

GINEVRA. 

I  tried  as  best  I  could — 
With  both  my  heart  and  soul  in  mutiny — 
But  he  just  smiled  and  said :    "A  Christian  Knight 
Performs  his  duty  reckless  of  the  cost." 

MOTHER. 

Oh,  he  is  noble!    Truly,  I  could  close 
My  eyes  in  peace,  were  I  to  see  you  wed 
To  one  so  worthy. — List !  your  father  comes. 
Go,  fling  yourself  before  the  Virgin's  shrine 
And  beg  her  help  in  this  dire  hour  of  need. 
(Cinema  retires  and  her  Mother  picks  up  the  missal  and  reads.) 

"There  is  no  dark  in  life,  but  trust  in  God, 
If  it  step  boldly,  or  put  forth  its  hand, 
Will  find  a  marble  stairway  to  the  stars, 
Or  balustrade  to  check  its  headlong  fall." 

BERNARDO  (entering) 
Where  is  Ginevra? 

MOTHER  (cautiously) 

Gone  to  her  devotions. 
I  have  the  feeling  that  our  daughter  longs 
To  leave  this  wretched  world  and  be  a  nun. 

BERNARDO. 
What! 

MOTHER. 

She  has  always  found  great  happiness 
In  helping  those  in  trouble  or  in  need ; 
And,  if  her  heart's  desire  should  be  God's  will, 
It  were  not  well  for  us  to  block  God's  way. 


GINEVEA  11 

BERNARDO. 

Zounds !    Zounds !    A  fine  thing,  truly,  to  allow 
A  daughter's  fancy  foil  a  father's  judgment! 
Instruct  our  daughter  that  she  must  conform 

Her  will  to  mine.    If  not there  is  no  "not". 

The  Amieri  tree  must  bloom  again 
With  prominence  and  power,  and  overtop 
All  other  trees  in  Florence,  as  of  old. 

MOTHER  (with  subdued  voice) 
Antonio  Rondinelli  has  fair  virtues, 
And  he  adores  Ginevra. 

BERNARDO. 

Rondinelli ! 

All  his  fair  virtues  are  but  candleshine 
Upon  the  ghastly  features  of  my  kin, 
Maimed  treacherously  by  his  hated  breed. 
Speak  not  of  him  for  our  Ginevra's  hand. 

MOTHER. 

I  fear  that  few,  with  their  ancestor's  deeds 
Upon  them  like  a  garment,  would  look  well 
In  Christian  company,  my  dear  Bernardo ! 

BERNARDO. 

I  hate  the  Rondinellis,  root  and  branch, 
And  shall  while  I  have  hand  to  strike  them  down. 

MOTHER. 

And  yet,  Bernardo,  pray  we  not  each  day: 
"Forgive  our  trespasses  as  we  forgive 
The  trespasses  of  others?" 

;•  ,",,  ':  .  n? 

BERNARDO. 

That  sounds  well, 

When  one  is  on  his  knees  petitioning  Heaven, 
Or,  when  unhorsed — if  of  a  craven  heart — 


12  G1NEVRA 

He  asks  for  quarter;  but  the  Amieri 
Never  take  quarter  from  the  enemy ; 
Nor  give  it. 

MOTHER. 
Oh,  our  poor  Ginevra ! 

BERNARDO. 

Peace. 

MOTHER. 

Her  life  is  like  a  taper — all  you  see, 
Bernardo, — all  that  any  father  sees 
In  a  fair  daughter — is  the  dazzling  beam — 
The  beauty  that  attracts  the  powerful. 
We  mothers  look  beneath  the  brilliancy 
And  see  the  taper  shed  away  its  life 
In  tears  that,  at  the  end,  extinguish  it. 
Bernardo !    Let  me  warn  you  ere  too  late, 
Though  gentle  be  our  child,  and  soft  her  voice, 
She  has  the  Amieri  strength  of  will, 
And  therefore,  have  a  care  whom  you  select 
To  be  her  husband. 

BERNARDO. 

Agolanti. 

MOTHER. 

No! 
Oh,  cast  Ginevra  in  the  tiger's  cage ! 

Come,  come  and  I  will  help  you  seize  our  child ! 

BERNARDO. 
Calm  your  excitement.     It  will  not  avail. 

MOTHER. 

Oh,  better  for  our  child,  if  she  were  thrown 
To  the  wild  beasts  I    A  momentary  pang, 
And  all  is  over.    I  could  then  give  thanks, 
Knowing  her  soul  at  peace  would  smile,  "Amen." 


G1NEVRA  13 

Oh,  trust  her  not  to  him  whom  you  have  named, 
Bernardo,  for  her  life  would  be  one  moan, 
One  deep,  prolonged  death  ratttle  in  our  ears ! 

BERNARDO. 

Francesco  Agolanti  has  the  will 
As  well  as  power  to  help  me  raise  our  house 
To  eminence  again. 

MOTHER. 

I  loathe  the  man. 

His  eye  has  the  sullen  dullness  which  I  dread 
As  much  in  man  as  snake,  while  his  fixed  smile 
Has  the  cold  shine  of  a  serpent  drawing  near! 
My  heart  and  soul  recoil  at  sight  of  him. 

BERNARDO. 
Sheer  fantasy! 

MOTHER. 

The  loathing  which  I  feel 
Toward  Agolanti  is  no  fantasy, 
Bernardo,  but  the  enmity  implanted 
By  God  in  woman's  nature  toward  the  snake 
In  any  of  its  guises  whatsoever. 

BERNARDO. 

Francesco  Agolanti  has  the  craft 
That  gains  control  of  men  and  holds  its  power. 
It  cannot  be  forestalled,  nor  circumvented, 
Nor  undermined.    His  craft  will  help  our  house. 

MOTHER. 

Oh,  his  are  hands  deft  but  to  turn  the  rack 
And  crack  the  bone  upon  the  least  suspicion ! 

BERNARDO. 
There  should  be  no  suspicion. 


14  GINEVRA 

MOTHER. 

I  hope  not. 

BERNARDO. 
Is  not  Ginevra  duteous? 

MOTHER. 

As  a  daughter, 

None  more  so ;  but  as  a  wife,  enraged  by  wrong 
Day  after  day,  who  knows  what  might  betide  ? 
Hers  is  no  soul  to  brook  indignity. 

BERNARDO. 
Indignity  to  Amieri's  child? 

MOTHER. 

Yes,  surely,  for  a  shameless  courtesan, 
Named  Vulma,  holds  Francesco  in  her  power ; 
Her  wishes  are  Francesco's  only  law. 

BERNARDO. 
Gossip ! 

MOTHER. 

The  truth !    I  heard  it  from  the  lips 
Of  his  poor  wife  who,  dying,  drew  me  close 
And  said :    "Mourn  not  for  me.    I  welcome  death 
As  gladly  as  I  welcomed  my  first-born." 

BERNARDO. 

Oh,  as  a  woman  has  small  weight  with  women 
When  she  proclaims  her  husband's  excellence, 
So  she  has  little  claim  to  man's  regard 
When  she  decries  her  spouse  with  bitter  tongue. 

MOTHER. 

My  poor  Ginevra!     I  foresee  her  doom. 
Her  young  life  opes  before  me  like  a  grave. 


GINEVRA  15 

BERNARDO. 

What !    Mother,  would  you  hint  our  child  might  bring 
Dishonor  to  the  Amieri  name? 

MOTHER. 

Oh,  I  have  thoughts  for  which  there  are  no  words ! 
Such  thoughts  as  have  all  mothers  when  they  watch 
The  child  depart  forever  from  the  home 
In  charge  of  one  whom  they  believe  a  fiend. 

BERNARDO. 

You  mount  a  fancy  that's  too  wild  to  ride. 
It  bites  and  kicks,  whirls  round  and  rears  so  high, 
That  I  must  be  gallant  and  take  you  down. 
Let  young  Antonio  Rondinelli  come 
This  morning,  if  it  is  Ginevra's  wish. 
There  shall  be  no  dishonor  to  our  house. 
(Bernardo  goes  out.) 

MOTHER. 

Bernardo,  dear  Bernardo !   this  is  well. 
It  is  an  answer  to  my  strongest  prayer 
That  trampled  down  all  others  in  my  heart 
In  haste  to  reach  dear  Mother  Mary's  ruth. 

(She  raises  her  eyes  to  Heaven.} 
Dear  Lord !    I  thank  Thee  for  the  change  of  heart 
Wrought  in  Bernardo.    For  a  second  time 
Hast  Thou  for  Thy  compassionate  Mother's  sake, 
Changed  water  at  a  wedding  into  wine. 

GINEVRA  (entering  timidly) 
I  see  the  answer,  Mother,  in  your  smile. 

MOTHER. 

Ginevra,  never  was  a  mother's  heart 
So  sparkling  full  of  joy  as  mine  is  now. 
Your  father  has  been  gracious.     He  will  meet 
Antonio  this  morning,  if  you  wish ! 


16  GINEVRA 

GINEVRA. 

Oh,  dear  Antonio,  I  do  fear  his  heart 
Will  burst  with  overfullness  of  his  joy! 
It  is  so  great  to  me,  that  I  half  fear 
To  reach  my  hand  to  touch  it  lest  it  melt. 

MOTHER. 
Thank  God,  my  child,  from  whom  all  blessings  flow. 

GINEVRA. 
How  thank  Him  fitly? 

MOTHER. 

By  a  vow,  my  child, 

To  help  the  poor  of  Florence  for  His  sake. 
Let  the  rejoicings  of  afflicted  folk 
Outshine  all  other  tapers  that  you  place 
On  the  Madonna's  shrine,  and  keep  it  burning; 
For  nothing  is  more  pleasing  to  His  sight. 

GINEVRA. 

I  make  that  vow,  fond  mother,  unto  death. 
Antonio  will  help  me  keep  it  well ; 
For,  though  in  battle  there  be  none  more  bold, 
Or  in  the  tourney,  he  takes  more  delight 
In  binding  up  a  wound  than  making  one. 
How  happy  now  will  dear  Antonio  be 
To  learn  of  father's  graciousness  to  him! 
Oh,  mother !   mother !   moth (laughs  hysterically.) 

MOTHER. 

Why  laugh  so,  child? 

GINEVRA. 

How  help  but  laugh,  dear  mother,  when  I  think 
Of  dear  Antonio's  amazement,  when 
He  comes  this  morning  with  set  face  and  doubt 
To  scale  the  fortress  of  my  father's  frown, 
And  finds  there  is  no  fortress  here  at  all ! 
Oh!   here  Antonio  comes.    What  noble  mien! 


GINEVRA  17 

ANTONIO  (entering) 
Ginevra! 

GINEVRA. 

Dear  Antonio,  come  here! 
(she  leads  him  toward  her  mother) 
Salute  our  Mother.    You  are  now  her  son. 

ANTONIO. 
My  Mother,  long,  in  sooth. 

MOTHER. 

God  grant  you  peace, 
My  children.    I  am  proud  to  call  you  son, 
Antonio. 

ANTONIO  (taking  out  ring) 

This  was  my  mother's  ring, 
Bestowed  at  her  betrothal. 

MOTHER  (in  alarm) 

Wait,  oh,  wait! 

Slight  not  your  father  by  a  plighted  troth, 
Before  he  hath  vouchsafed  you  his  approval 
With  all  the  due  formality  himself. 
He  will  return  soon ;   he  expects  a  guest. 

(Mother  goes  out.) 
Ginevra,  call  me  when  your  father  comes. 

ANTONIO. 
Dear,  tell  me  how  this  joy  has  come  to  pass. 

GINEVRA. 

The  wonder  worker  was  my  mother. 

ANTONIO. 

How? 

GINEVRA. 

Who  can  explain  a  miracle  ?    The  blind 
Obtain  the  vision  of  the  beautiful ; 


18  G1NEVRA 

The  deaf,  the  joy  of  music.    That  is  all 
That  can  be  said  of  father's  change  of  heart. 
It  is,  it  is !    Antonio,  it  is ! 
And  in  enjoying  it  I  am  content. 

ANTONIO. 

I  am  content.    Dear,  ever  since  I  twined 
The  garland  on  that  most  memorial  May 
And  crowned  you  queen  amid  the  realming  shout, 
I  saw  this  day  descending  down  the  heavens 
To  take  command  of  all  the  sun-plumed  troop. 

GINEVRA. 

And  since  that  day,  my  dear  Antonio, 

My  thought,  my  dream,  weal,  woe  and  hope  of  Heaven, 

And  night  and  morning  prayer  have  been  for  you. 

(Enter  jester  with  a  donkey's  head  on  his  arm,  who  at  the  sight 

of  Antonio  whines  like  a  dog.    Antonio  shows  ring  and  takes 

no  heed  of  the  fester.) 

ANTONIO. 

No  queen,  dear,  has  so  rich  and  rare  a  ring. 
My  mother,  dying,  bade  me  take  it  off 
Her  finger,  and  to  keep  it  for  the  bride 
Worthy  to  wear  it.     It  shall  never  deck 
Another  finger,  dear ;  for  doubly  blest 
By  being  worn  by  two  so  virtuous, 
Its  sparkle  shall  be  lidded,  like  your  eyes 
Within  the  casket  sacred  to  your  sleep. 

JESTER. 

Ha — ha !  ha — ha !  A  ring  for  my  mistress,  not  free  and  clear, 
for  there  is  a  mortgage  upon  it  held  by  a  skeleton.  Look  here, 
gallant  Antonio,  you  have  a  jester  in  your  castle  whose  neck  you 
should  have  broken  before  he  was  born,  and  I  bear  you  a  grudge 
for  not  having  done  your  duty  on  that  occasion.  Have  you  come 
here  to  prove  my  master's  contention  that  the  Rondinelli  Castle 


GINEVRA  19 

can  boast  of  a  greater  fool  than  I  am  ?    Ha — ha !    Ha — ha !    ha — 
ha — ha — ha ! 

ANTONIO. 
Fool,  why  are  you  so  merry  this  morning? 

JESTER. 

Merry !    Ha — ha !    There  was  never  a  man  merry  since  Adam 
lost  his  rib. 

(Enter  Bernardo  with  Francesco.     The  company  curtsy  to  each 
other.) 

ANTONIO. 

Messer  Bernardo  Amieri,  peace 
On  both  our  houses.    Hate,  that  like  a  hawk, 
Has  brooded  over  them  for  lustres  long, 
And  hatched  out  only  talons  and  fierce  beaks, 
Has  flown  forever.    In  its  place  sits  love, 
A  bird  of  golden  crest  and  songful  throat, 
The  melody  of  whose  prolific  brood 
Will  show  the  sun  the  way  to  earth  at  dawn, 
And  keep  him  lingering  in  the  West  at  eve. 

BERNARDO. 

The  Rondinelli  tongue  was  always  glib, 
Which  takes  with  women  better  than  with  men. 

JESTER. 

A  man's  proper  tongue  is  his  sword,  say  I. 
Ha— ha! 

ANTONIO. 

Truly,  sir,  were  a  lightning  bolt  to  turn 
Into  a  snow-white  dove  in  its  descent 
From  the  black  cloud,  and  perch  upon  my  roof, 
Far  less  were  I  astounded  at  the  sight 
Than  at  your  glorious  change  of  heart  toward  me, 
Shown  by  your  countenancing  my  love  at  last 
For  fair  Ginevra.    Oh,  till  this  rapt  hour, 
Little  dreamed  I  how  poor,  indeed,  are  words 


20  GIN.EVRA 

As  the  ambassadors  of  gratitude ! 

They  seem  shipwrecked  of  all  the  wealth  of  heart 

With  which  they  had  been  laden,  leaving  port. 

FRANCESCO  (ignoring  Antonio) 
Your  artistry,  however  beautiful, 
Ginevra,  has  a  rival  in  yourself. 

(Her  reply  is  a  look  of  surprise.) 

JESTER  (taunting  Antonio) 

Ha — ha!  ha — ha — ha!  Ha — ha!  If  your  words  had  a  rat's 
sense  in  them,  they  would  never  venture  on  a  sea  broader  than 
an  arm's  length.  Ha — ha ! 

BERNARDO. 
Get  to  your  kennel. 

JESTER. 

First,  give  me  my  bone.  If  I  am  a  dog,  I  am  entitled  to  a 
bone,  and  I  stand  on  my  rights.  There's  not  to  be  two  fools  in 
the  house  as  long  as  I  am  master. 

BERNARDO. 
Begone ! 

JESTER. 

My  bone,  my  bone!     All  Florence  for  my  bone!     The  bone 
that's  to  my  relish  is  Rondinelli's  departure  from  this  house  with 
break-neck  speed.     I  want  him  to   fetch  his  absence  here  by 
flying  hence  with  the  haste  of  a  devil  scalded  by  holy  water. 
(Ginevra  lifts  up  her  finger  at  the  jester  who  slinks  away,  >and 
with  his  back  turned  to  her  laughs  in  low  tone) 
Ha — ha !  '  ha — ha — !    ha — ha — ha ! 

BERNARDO  (changing  intention  sud 
denly) 

Ginevra ! — Tell  your  mother  that  our  guest, 
Francesco  Agolanti,  has  arrived, 
And  that  we  share  one  thirst  which  we  would  slake. 
(Ginevra  bows  and  withdraws.    Bernardo  turns  to  Antonio.) 


G1NEVRA  21 

Now,  Rondinelli,  few  shall  be  my  words. 
A  stripling,  having  hurt  his  friend  in  play, 
Sought  pardon  of  the  father  for  the  harm. 
In  answer,  he  was  seized  and  had  his  hand 
Put  on  a  block  and  chopped  off  at  the  wrist. 
This  stripling  was  an  Amieri  youth ; 
His  mutilator  was  a  Rondinelli. 

ANTONIO. 
That  happened  many  generations  back. 

BERNARDO. 

You  know  it,  knave !  and  yet  you  dare  to  cross 
The  Amieri  threshold.     Villain,  die ! 

(Draws  his  sword  and  makes  a  lunge  at  Antonio,  who  parries  the 
blow.  Fool  leaps  with  delight  at  the  sight  of  his  master's 
flashing  sword.) 

ANTONIO  (handing  sword  back  to 
Bernardo,  whom  he 
has  disarmed) 

Your  life  is  haloed  by  Ginevra's  love. 

I  am  not  sacrilegious  in  my  heat. 

BERNARDO  (refusing  sword) 
What!    To  a  Rondinelli  owe  my  sword? 

ANTONIO. 

A  filial  act,  due  to  your  reverend  years. 
(Lays  the  sword  aside.) 

BERNARDO  (to  Francesco) 
And  you  stand  idly  by  and  lift  no  hand 
To  save  the  Amieri  house  from  shame  ? 
Oh,  twenty  generations  cannot  scour 
This  black  dishonor  to  the  house's  head 
From  its  escutcheon !    And  you,  younger,  too, 
Than  I  by  twice  ten  years !    And  you,  the  man 


22  GINEVRA 

Who  would  espouse  my  child  to  bring  our  house 
Defenders  of  its  honor  for  all  time ! 
I  thought  we  shared  "one  thirst  ?" 

FRANCESCO. 

And  so  we  do. 

I  wanted  to  see  you,  tho'  thrice  his  years, 
To  have  the  glory  of  dispatching  him 
Without  another's  help;  not  that,  indeed, 
There  is  much  glory  even  for  tottering  age 
To  kick  out  of  his  way  so  vile  a  cur. 

ANTONIO. 

Francesco  Agolanti,  you  presume, 
Knowing  that  you  are  sheltered 

FRANCESCO. 

Sheltered?    fie! 

ANTONIO. 

Sheltered,  you  villain,  by  the  fact  you  know 
I  love  Ginevra,  and  on  her  account 
That  I  decline  to  crimson  now  afresh 
This  ancient  palace  floor  which,  to  the  mind 
That  sees  beneath  its  gloss  from  Time's  long  dance, 
Looks  like  a  fresco  fallen  from  the  wall. 

FRANCESCO. 

"Decline",  of  course !    What  else  could  one  expect 
From  a  vile  Rondinelli  ?    There ! 
(Throws  glove  in  Antonio's  face.    Antonio  kicks  it  and  draws 

his  sword.    The  jester  jumps  with  joy  as  the  fight  becomes 

fiercer.) 

JESTER. 

Have  at  him,  Francesco !  There  you  miss  and  now  again.  By 
the  spirit  of  Caesar,  I  could  do  better  than  that  with  this  donkey's 
head.  Dispatch  him  with  one  thrust !  That  is  all  that  is  needed, 


GINEVRA  23 

if  it  be  of  the  right  heft  and  proper  direction.    Strike  when  I  tell 

you,  for  no  one  can  direct  a  battle  like  a  fool  that  isn't  in  it. 

Have  it  your  way,  then !     I  can  enjoy  the  fiercest  battle,  so  long 

as  my  body  is  out  of  the  reach  of  a  jab. 

(Ginevra  enters  and  rushes  between  Antonio  and  her  father,  who 
is  ctfoout  to  plunge  his  sword  in  her  lover's  back.  He  dashes 
Ginevra  aside  and  fells  Antonio  with  his  sword  thrust.  Gin 
evra  shields  Anto'nio  from  further  blows  by  falling  on  his 
body.) 

MOTHER  (entering) 

Oh,  in  the  name  of  God !    What  have  you  done  ? 
Another  awful  crime  upon  this  house ! 

GINEVRA  (weeping  and  going  out) 
A  priest !    A  priest !    He  must  not  die  unshriven. 

BERNARDO   (presenting  Francesco) 
Mother,  Francesco  Agolanti,  whom 
I  have  selected  to  espouse  our  daughter. 

MOTHER. 

Evil  betides  the  marriage,  when,  like  this, 
It  is  without  God's  blessing.    Spare  our  child ! 

BERNARDO. 

Blood  calls  for  blood.    It  is  a  father's  right 
To  use  precaution  lest  his  daughter  stain 
The  honor  of  the  house  with  wish  or  deed. 
There,  her  temptation  lies,  a  lifeless  dog! 

(Points  to  Antonio's  body  and  Ginevra  enters  with  the  priest  be 
fore  whom  Bernardo  and  Francesco  stand  threateningly.) 

BERNARDO  (to  priest) 

You  are  too  late  to  shrive  the  treacherous  wretch, 
But  you  come  timely  to  perform  an  office 
More  to  our  temper,  Priest. 


24  GINEVRA 

PRIEST  (lifting  cross) 

The  Crucifix! 

Make  way  for  it,  or  ask  not  for  its  mercy, 
When  death's  white  shadow  falls  upon  your  face. 
(They  move  aside,  awe-struck.    Antonio  stirs  and  speaks,  weak 
of  voice.) 

ANTONIO. 

I  die  content.    Oh,  better  thus  to  go 
Than  harm  a  hair,  Ginevra,  of  your  sire. 
The  blow  were  parricidal  by  my  hand. 
Nor  shall  your  blush  take  color  from  one  stain 
Shed  by  my  hand  upon  your  palace  floor. 

PRIEST. 
Son,  turn  your  thoughts  toward  Heaven. 

BERNARDO  (beckoning  to  servants 
and  pointing  to  An 
tonio) 

Out  with  the  dog! 
(They  carry  Antonio  out  and  prevent  the  priest  and  Ginevra  from 

following.) 
Priest,  join  Francesco  and  my  daughter ! 

GINEVRA. 

Father ! 

My  heart  and  soul  Antonio  possesses, 
And  they  can  not  be  taken  from  his  keep. 

BERNARDO. 

Ha !    Not  amiss  then  was  the  blow  that  felled  him. 
The  honor  of  our  house  has  been  preserved. 

GINEVRA  (falling  on  her  knees  be 
fore  Francesco) 

Francesco  Agolanti — on  my  knees 
I  plead  for  mercy — mercy  on  your  honor 
No  less  than  mine  because,  compelled  to  wed,    * 
I  never  can  be  other  than  a  corpse ; 
A  blind,  deaf  charnel  thing  whom  you  will  loathe ! 


GINEVEA  25 

MOTHER. 

Oh,  that  a  child  of  mine  should  have  to  plead 
For  mercy,  and  I  helpless !  Would  she  were 
Within  the  convent's  shelter,  or  the  grave ! 

BERNARDO. 
Unite  them,  Priest ! 

PRIEST. 

I  cannot  marry  them. 

BERNARDO. 
What! 

PRIEST. 
There  must  be  consent  on  part  of  both. 

BERNARDO. 

This  is  no  time  to  trifle.  Marry  them 
This  instant ;  or,  by  Heaven !    I'll  drive  this  sword 
Into  your  carcass. 

PRIEST. 

Be  it  so.    Death  swings 
Open  but  once,  and,  whether  soon  or  late, 

Matters  but  little  to  a  soul  prepared. 
Strike !    I  am  ready. 

MOTHER  (rushing  before  priest  and 
addressing  Bernardo) 

No,  no,  no !    Strike  me ! 
But  add  not  to  this  house's  many  crimes 
The  sacrilege  of  shedding  saintly  blood. 

BERNARDO  (pushing  her  aside) 
Woman,  away! 

MOTHER  (dropping  on  her  knees  be 
fore  priest) 
One  boon  I  crave — your  blessing. 

PRIEST  (blessing  her) 
There,  daughter. 


26  G1NEVRA 

MOTHER. 

Oh,  the  blessing  that  I  crave 
Is  that  you  spare  this  house  from  further  guilt. 
Let  Prudence  rule. 

BERNARDO  (to  priest) 
Decide ! 

PRIEST. 

I  have  decided. 

MOTHER. 
Oh! 

PRIEST. 

Daughter,  I  rejoice  that  I  am  called 
By  God  to  be  His  witness  of  the  truth. 

MOTHER. 

Oh,  for  the  generations  of  this  house 
As  yet  unborn,  whose  little  voices  plead 
With  mine  for  mercy,  like  a  cloistered  choir, 
I  now  beseech  you !    oh,  good  Priest !  good  Priest ! 

(She  continues  her  appeal  in  vehement,  subdued  tone.) 

PRIEST. 

How  can  I,  daughter  ?    It  would  be  no  marriage, 
But  profanation  of  the  sacred  rite. 

BERNARDO. 
Up  from  your  knees,  Ginevra,  'tis  my  will. 

GINEVRA. 

No,  father,  never !    Strike  me  with  your  sword, 
And  I  will  take  it  as  a  kindly  deed, 
And  bless  you  for  it  with  my  parting  breath. 

MOTHER  (in  desperation) 
Bernardo  Amieri !    Spare  our  child. 


GINEVRA  27 

BERNARDO  (seising  Ginevra  by  the 
wrist  and  drawing  her 
toward  the  priest) 

Unite  them,  and  have  done  with  idle  speech. 
(Francesco  looks  on  with  his  fixed,  sardonic  smile  and  the  mother, 
burying  her  face  in  her  hands,  weeps  convulsively.) 

CURTAIN. 


GINEVRA 
ACT    II. 


(Two  years  later  when  Florence  is  stricken  by  the  Plague. 
The  Loggia  of  the  Agolanti  palace.     The  White  Penitents  are 
aroused  from  their  slumber  by  the  tolling  of  the  bell,  and 
decorously  march  off  chanting  a  litany.) 

JESTER  (entering) 
Ha,  ha!   ha — ha — ha — ha — ha!    Ha — ha! 

FRANCESCO  (entering  in  alarm) 
Is  the  plague  in  the  palace? 

JESTER. 

Not  yet,  good  Master.  It  has  probably  delayed  its  visit  until  it 
could  be  sure  that  you  were  at  home. 

FRANCESCO  (sharply) 
Where  is  your  mistress,  Ginevra  ? 

JESTER. 

By  all  accounts,  good  Master,  my  mistress  Ginevra  is  out  in  the 
highways  and  byways  of  Florence,  giving  the  angels  a  hand  at 
their  work. 

FRANCESCO. 
Fool,  why  did  you  toll  the  bell  ? 

JESTER. 

For  the  best  reason  that  a  fool  ever  had — to  put  his  master  at 
ease.  All  night  long  those  whitewashed  rascals  that  have  come 
down  like  locusts  from  the  North,  kept  me  awake  droning  their 
"Misericordia."  I  ordered  them  away.  "Where  is  your  master  ?" 
said  they.  "Out  with  the  roysterers,"  answered  I.  "He  is  on  the 
headlong  road  to  hell,"  said  they.  "Don't  follow  his  example," 
answered  I.  "We  won't,"  said  they,  and  they  sprawled  every 
where  they  could  put  their  bodies.  If  their  drone  was  bad,  it  was 
nothing  to  their  snore  in  chorus,  and  I  tolled  the  bell  that  you, 
reaching  home  from  your  frolic,  might  snatch  a  wink  of  sleep. 

31 


32  GINEVRA 

FRANCESCO. 

Fool,  don't  you  know  that  the  tolling  of  the  bell  is  a  signal  for 
the  Black  Company  to  come? 

JESTER. 

Let  them  come.     It  will  do  their  hearts  good  that  there  is  no 
dead  one  here  to  carry  to  the  Lazaretto. 

FRANCESCO. 
Here  they  are. 

(Enter  Black  Company.) 

CAPTAIN  (after  looking  around) 
Where  is  the  dead  whom  you  would  have  us  bury? 

FRANCESCO. 
It  was  the  fool  who  tolled  the  bell. 

CAPTAIN. 

Mad  sport, 

Francesco  Agolanti,  when  the  Plague 
Is  falling  like  sharp  hail  on  every  house 
And  whitening  the  city  like  the  Alps ! 
God  grant  that  you  need  not  our  service  soon. 
(Black  Company  goes  out,  and  Francesco  seises  Jester  by  the 
neck.) 

FRANCESCO. 
I  have  the  will  to  wring  your  neck  off,  wretch ! 

JESTER  (escaping) 

Look  here,  master!  Let  me  tell  you  something.  The  Plague 
belongs  to  the  Guild  and  enjoys  the  reputation  of  doing  its  work 
very  well.  It  does  not  need  your  help  to  depopulate  Florence. 
Ha— ha! 

(The  roysterers  are  heard  singing.) 


GINEVRA  33 

FRANCESCO. 

It  bodes  ill  for  the  black-cowled  Company 
To  make  a  visit  to  a  festive  house. 
'T  is  like  Death  looking  in  and  whispering,  "Next." 
Fool,  call  the  servants.    Bid  them  fetch  the  wine — 
A  cask  of  it — the  best  vernaccio ! 
Here  come  my  friends  to  help  me  drown  the  Plague. 

JESTER. 
Ha — ha!   ha — ha — ha — ha!    Ha — ha! 

FRANCESCO. 

Hurry,  fool,  hurry.     I  have  a  bursting  head. 
(Jester  picks  up  stuffed  donkey's  head,  which  has  been  dropped 
in  the  scuffle.) 

JESTER. 

I  must  have  my  donkey's  head,  Master.  It  is  my  birthright  and 
royal  prerogative,  and  I  have  more  sense  than  to  abdicate  the 
throne  for  even  two  minutes  in  favor  of  next  of  kin. 

FRANCESCO. 
Be  off!    No  time  for  this. 
(Seizes  donkey's  head  from  Jester  and  dashes  it  on  the  floor.) 

JESTER  (picking  it  up  again) 

I  need  this  donkey's  head  more  than  you,  Master,  for  you  have 
one  already,  and  if  I  should  leave  this  you  would  then  have  two. 
Ha — ha !  (Goes  out.) 

FRANCESCO- 

Oh !  how  endure  this  damnable  existence 
In  Florence  for  a  day,  or  even  an  hour, 
But  for  the  anti-God,  born  of  the  grape, 
Who  comes  to  our  relief ! — Friends,  welcome !    welcome ! 
(Enter  a  dozen  roysterers,  one  of  them,  Vulma,  richly  attired,  and 
all  join  in  a  song  of  the  period.    Servants  come  in  with  wine.) 


34  GINEVRA 

VULMA. 

A  toast,  Francesco !    One  to  fire  the  blood 
Till  its  bright  flare  defends  us  from  all  pests. 

SEVERAL  VOICES. 
Toast ! 

FRANCESCO. 

Wine  that  breaks  in  laughter  at  the  mouth 

At  thought  of  death — wine  in  whose  crimson  depths, 

We  make  a  merry  merman  world  of  life 

Afar  from  sight  and  sound  of  human  ill — 

Wine,  where  the  long  lost  sunshine  of  the  sky 

And  radiance  of  the  yet  unrisen  suns 

Become  Love's  ravishing  lips,  that  press  our  mouths 

And  breathe  to  being  all  our  wildest  dreams, 

And  then  immune  us  happy  from  all  harm ! 

(They  applaud  and  all  drain  their  glasses  except  the  Chief  Roys 
terer,  who  looks  reflective.  The  Jester,  entering,  s-natches 
the  Roysterer's  glass  and  drinks  its  contents.) 

CHIEF  ROYSTERER. 
May  that  choke  you. 

JESTER. 

Ha — ha — ha — ha — ha — ha !    Ha — ha ! 

(Jester  takes  two  glasses  of  wine  from  the  servants  and  presents 
them  to  the  Chief  Roysterer.) 

JESTER. 

Here,  take  these  two  glasses  for  that  one. 

(He  withdraws  the  glasses  and  drains  them  himself,  whereupon 
the  Chief  Roysterer  goes  to  the  \board  and,  lifting  a  decanter, 
puts  it  to  his  mouth,  causing  general  laughter.) 

VULMA  (coquettishly) 

Your  wine  is  good,  Francesco,  but  your  toast 
Could  be  improved  on.    Is  it  only  wine 
You  think  about,  fond  lover?    Only  wine? 


GINEVRA  35 

Has  wine  disfigured,  in  a  jealous  fit, 
Her  fairer  rival  in  your  heart  and  mind? 

FRANCESCO. 
Oh,  Woman  more  than  wine,  but  for  whose  beauty 

JESTER. 

There  never  would  have  been  an  ass  in  the  world  and,  in 

faith,  hell  would  never  have  had  an  inhabitant,  except  the  Devil. 
Ha— ha! 

FRANCESCO. 
Her  beauty  is  the  sun  above  the  world 

JESTER. 

You  are  right,  good  Master;  and  if  I  were  a  Joshua,  I  would 
command  the  sun  to  stand  high  in  heaven  forever — that  the  battle 
between  man  and  man  might  go  on  without  end.    Ha — ha! 
(They  laugh  uproariously.) 

FRANCESCO. 
Refill  your  glasses.    Now,  we  drink  to  Woman. 

(They  drink.) 

JESTER. 

If  woman,  the  fruit  of  Adam's  body,  had  remained  crude  in 
him,  and  not  ripened  and  fallen  to  the  earth — what  would  be 
the  outcome  ?  There  would  have  been  no  outcome  at  all,  and  that 
should  end  the  matter — but  it  doesn't.  The  schoolmen  pick  up  a 
question  where  the  fool  lets  it  drop,  and  therefore  you  will  have 
to  go  to  them  for  an  answer  to  the  problem — If  woman  had 
remained  to  this  day  simply  as  a  bone  in  Adam,  what  kind  of  a 
bone  would  it  be?  Cui  bono  or  pro  bono  public  o? 
(They  laugh  uproariously  and  Francesco,  seising  the  Jester, 

places  him  on  the  table.     They  crowd  around  the  Jester  and 

do  not  observe  Ginevra,  who  enters  from  the  door,  grave  of 

countenance  and  in  hospital  attire.) 

FRANCESCO. 
A  sermon,  fool ! 


36  G1NEVRA 

COMPANY  (in  chorus) 

A  sermon  by  the  fool ! 

JESTER. 

I  shall,  faith,  and  I  will  not  be  the  first  fool  in  the  pulpit  to  ad 
dress  his  brethren.  Now,  don't  put  me  down  for  a  dull  preacher, 
if  the  smell  of  your  wine  gets  into  my  homily  and  sets  you  snoring 
like  the  White  Penitents.  (They  laugh.  He  fixes  his  gaze  on 
Vulma  and  points  at  her.)  First,  my  homage  to  the  lady  of  the 
house.  I  know  her  by  the  gems  in  her  hair  and  brooch  on  her 
breast,  and  above  all,  by  that  ring  on  her  first  finger  that  should 
have  been  on  the  third.  (The  Jester  sees  Ginevra  and  darts  down 
•from  the  table  and  out.)  Ha — ha !  ha — ha — ha — ha !  Ha — ha ! 

VULMA  (excited  with  wine) 
Yes,  yes;  the  fool  is  right,  Francesco — right! 
Having  your  heart  and  every  jewel  prized 
By  haughty  Amieri,  even  the  ring 
That  flaunted  in  your  face  her  paramour — 
I  am  the  mistress  here,  and  yet  am  not. 

FRANCESCO. 
Your  will  has  way  with  me  in  everything. 

VULMA. 

Then,  give  me  the  possession  of  this  palace 
That  I,  henceforth,  may  queen  it  openly. 

FRANCESCO. 

Be  patient,  Vulma.    If  I  could  look  over 
Plague's  shoulder  at  the  lengthy  scroll  he  holds, 
I  might  find  there  a  name  that  would  read  well ; 
For  she,  Ginevra,  follows  close  to  him 
Thro'  Florence,  in  the  vain  attempt  to  snatch 
His  victims  and  to  wash  his  mark  from  them. 
He  may  get  angry  at  her  impudence. 


GINEVRA  37 

VULMA. 

It  must  be  now,  Francesco,  see !    To  foil 
The  Plague  if  it  touch  me.    This  may  be  put 
To  other  purpose,  if  you  halt  half  way. 
(Shows  dagger.) 

FRANCESCO. 
Ginevra  has  no  issue. 

VULMA. 

That  you  know. 

FRANCESCO. 

Her  dower  which  you  have  helped  me  to  enjoy 
Can  be  two-thirds  reclaimed.    Wait  till  the  Plague 
Exhausts  its  roster ;  for  the  father,  too, 
May  be  among  the  drafted.    In  that  case 
There  is  no  claimant  for  the  lost  two-thirds 
To  worry  me  a  moment. 

VULMA. 

Still  you  halt. 

Install  me  in  the  palace,  Agolanti, 
With  the  due  honors,  and,  before  nightfall, 
I  shall  unearth  to  your  blind  sight  a  truth 
Which  Florence,  under  breath,  for  many  a  month, 
Has  whispered  where  you  passed  with  peacock  strut, 
As  tho'  you  also  had  the  peacock's  eyes. 

FRANCESCO. 
What!    I  the  butt  of  any  jest  in  Florence? 

VULMA. 

Where  is  Antonio  Rondinelli? 

FRANCESCO. 

Cloistered ! 

VULMA. 

Cloistered  indeed,  and  most  luxuriously 
Beneath  this  roof. 


38  GINEVRA 

GINEVRA  (stepping  forth  and  start 
ling  the  company) 
A  falsehood !  by  the  Mother 
Of  Sorrows,  I  declare  these  words  are  false! 

FRANCESCO. 

Ha!    That  explains  the  mystery.    Who  else 
Had  provocation  but  Antonio 
To  have  our  marriage  questioned  by  the  Church  ? 
I  now  know  who  induced  you  to  invoke 
The  Holy  Office. 

GINEVRA. 

I? 

FRANCESCO. 

Deny  it  not, 
You  lily  with  an  adder  coiled  within ! 

GINEVRA. 

A  priest,  sent  by  the  Bishop,  questioned  me 
About  what  happened  on  our  marriage  day, 
And  said  I  would  hear  further  in  due  time. 

FRANCESCO  (gloating) 

But  you  have  not  heard  further !    Nor  shall  you ! 
For,  to  relieve  your  keen  anxiety, 
And  drown  the  dreams  that  keep  you  wide  awake 
Night  long,  like  howling  dogs  that  want  a  bone, 
Let  me  inform  you  that  the  marriage  holds. 
Ha !    I  could  quote  good  Scripture  to  the  point : 
"Whom  God  has  joined  let  no  man  put  asunder." 

GINEVRA  (with  a  sigh) 
I  am  your  wife  until  Death  do  us  part. 

FRANCESCO. 
Begone,  I  have  some  friends  to  entertain. 


GINEVRA  39 

GINEVRA. 

Francesco,  for  your  soul's  sake  and  the  thirst 
Of  God  Himself  for  your  salvation,  cease 
This  demon  work!    Disband  these  revellers! 

VULMA  (impudently) 
Who  is  this  mansion's  mistress — she  or  I  ? 

GINEVRA  (ignoring  Vulma) 
Francesco,  let  this  woman  keep  the  gems 
But  go  her  way. 

VULMA  (laughing) 

Ha !    Even  keep  this  ring  ? 

GINEVRA. 
No,  I  except  that  ring,  which  I  thought  lost. 

FRANCESCO  (with  grim  irony) 
Aye,  which  you  then  bemoaned,  and  for  a  month 
Sought  from  the  roof  to  cellar,  as  a  cat  ,    \ 

Her  kitten,  taken  from  her  to  be  drowned. 

GINEVRA. 
Perhaps  so.    Will  you  not  return  that  ring? 

FRANCESCO. 
Never. 

GINEVRA. 
That  ring  must  be  interred  with  me ! 

FRANCESCO. 

And  give  Antonio  an  eternal  laugh 
At  my  blind  folly  ?    Have  the  Florentines 
Not  meat  enough  for  mirth  ? 

GINEVRA. 

Mirth?    More  for  tears. 


40  GINEVRA 

FRANCESCO. 

Meat  that  left  over  from  the  board  to-day 
Would  taste  as  well  served  cold  in  after  years. 

GINEVRA. 
The  ring,  Francesco — I  must  have  the  ring. 

FRANCESCO. 
Never. 

GINEVRA.      . 
No  other  favor  have  I  sought — 
At  least  not  since  the  day  upon  my  knees 
I  begged  for  mercy  on  yourself  and  me 
That  I  be  not  compelled  to  wed,  for,  with  my  soul 
Departed,  how  be  other  than  a  corpse  ? 

FRANCESCO. 
Off !  blind,  deaf  charnel  thing  whom  I  do  loathe ! 

(Seizes  her  arm  with  savage  grasp) 
But  stay!    Where  are  you  hiding  him?    Bring  me 
Where  he  is  lurking  that  this  glaring  sword 
May  slake  its  tiger  throat  and  give  me  peace. 

GINEVRA  (wincing) 
I  know  not  where  he  is,  or  if  he  is. 
The  last  I  saw  of  poor  Antonio, 
Was  when  they  dragged  his  bleeding  body  out 
And  would  not  let  the  holy  priest  shrive  him. 

FRANCESCO  (lifting  sword) 
Die,  hideous  liar !  nor  shall  a  priest  shrive  you ! 

GINEVRA  (falling  .on  her  knees) 
Francesco,  ere  you  strike,  one  parting  word ! 
If  the  good  God  permit,  I  shall  return 
•And  show  you  by  a  wonder  and  strange  sign 


GINEVRA  41 

How  foully  I  have  been  defamed  in  Florence. 
This  is  my  earnest  prayer,  and  God  will  grant 
My  heart  cry. 

FRANCESCO  (turning  to  Vulma) 
Vulma,  you  shall  prove  your  charge. 
Speak ! 

VULMA  (dropping  into  a  seat) 
I  am  deathly  ill. 

FRANCESCO. 

Look  at  her  arm! 
(They  uncover  her  arm.) 

ROYSTERERS  (in  chorus) 
The  spot  is  on  it ! 

FRANCESCO  (to  Jester,  and  hurrying 

out) 

Toll  the  bell. 
(Jester  tolls  bell  and  Roysterers  rush  out.) 

VULMA  (rising  and  following  them) 

Wait,  wait! 

Oh,  help  me  out  of  this  accursed  place ! 
What,  oh,  my  friends,  are  you  abandoning  me  ? 
I  am  abandoned !    God !    I  am  abandoned ! 
(Falls  on  the  floor  and  lifts  her  dagger.    Ginevra  approaches  and 
seises  the  weapon.) 

GINEVRA. 

Oh,  fly  not  in  the  face  of  God,  poor  soul ! 
(Hastens  indoors.) 

VULMA 

Let  me  cut  out  the  spot  upon  my  arm. 
That  spot  there  is  the  Plague.    Oh,  cut  it  out ! 
There  is  no  hope  while  that  is  on  my  arm. 
Oh,  give  me  back  the  dagger !    Let  me  end 
This  torment! — O,  you  worse  than  thief — You  fiend —  .. 
To  steal  my  only  hope  to  cheat  the  Plague ! 


42  GINEVRA 

GINEVRA  (returning  with  water  and 
sponge,  which  she  ap 
plies.) 

Put  trust  in  God ;  for  oh,  the  farther  off 
From  every  human  hope,  the  nearer  Him. 
Pray. 

VULMA. 

I  ?    Too  late ! 

GINEVRA. 

Never  too  late;    for  mercy, 
Although  Archangel,  dwells  not  in  High  Heaven 
Among  the  glorified,  but  on  the  earth 
Among  the  wretched  who  implore  reprieve. 

VULMA. 

What  torture !    Ease  this  pain !    Relieve  this  pang ! 

Where  is  Francesco  ?    Has  he  left  me,  too  ? 

Fie  for  his  jewels !  they  are  demon  eyes ! 

But  oh,  this  ring — I  cannot  part  with  that. 

(Enter  Black  Company  chanting  a  hymn.  They  place  Vulma  on 
the  litter,  and  when  they  are  about  to  start,  she  rises  from 
her  prone  posture  and  addresses  Ginevra.) 

Remove  it  from  my  finger!    Would  to  God 

I  could  thus  take  my  falsehood  off  your  name ! 

(Ginevra  takes  ring  and  puts  it  on  her  finger.  The  Black  Com 
pany  carry  Vulma  out,  whereupon  Bernardo  enters  with  his 
wife.) 

MOTHER  (with  trembling  voice) 
Ginevra !    Sure  that  it  was  you  they  fetched 
From  out  the  palace  gate,  I  bade  them  halt 
And  raise  the  cover. 

GINEVRA  (sighing) 

Would  it  were! 

MOTHER. 

We  came 

To  be  with  you  that  all  might  die  together; 
For  there  is  no  escape,  go  where  we  will. 


GINEVRA  43 

No  breeze  from  East,  from  West,  from  North  or  South, 
But  comes  here  freighted  with  the  pestilence 
As  it  was  wont  with  fragrance  from  the  vines. 

GINEVRA. 

I  feel  no  terror,  mother !  it  is  gone. 
Oh,  there  are  worse  afflictions  than  the  Plague ! 

BERNARDO. 
Where  is  Francesco? 

GINEVRA. 

Fled,  a  fugitive, 
The  moment  that  his  friend  was  stricken  down. 

BERNARDO. 
What  friend,  that  he  should  have  deserted  you? 

GINEVRA. 

A  woman  whom  he  brought  here  to  preside 
Over  his  revels  and — father!    to  unearth 
The  secret  cloister  of  my  paramour, 
Antonio,  within  this  palace! 

BERNARDO. 

What! 
GINEVRA. 

She  said  all  Florence  knew  that  it  was  so, 
And  he  believed  her ;  for  he  raised  his  sword 
To  strike  me — which  I  wish  he  had — God  knows  I — 
When  I  declared  the  woman's  words  were  false. 

MOTHER. 

I  knew  it  would  be  thus  when  I  opposed 
The  cursed  alliance.  • 

BERNARDO. 

By  the  living  God, 

Francesco  will  pay  dearly  for  the  slur 
He  casts  upon  the  honor  of  our  house, 
Without  just  cause!  Where  is  your  master,  fool ?..,,  , .,, 


44  G1NEVRA 

JESTER  (entering) 

In  the  ark,  by  this  time,  if  he  isn't  winded.  He  heard  Noah 
calling  aloud  for  a  good  specimen  of  an  ass.  Ha — ha !  ha — ha — 
ha — ha!  Ha — ha!  My  master,  sensible  man  that  he  is,  prefers 
an  ass's  stall,  or  even  a  rat  hole,  in  the  ark,  to  the  deluge  which 
has  shifted  from  Palestine  to  Florence  and  left  the  rainbow  be 
hind  it.  Ha — ha!  ha — ha!  ha — ha! 

MOTHER  (in  alarm) 
Bernardo !    See  Ginevra's  face ! 

BERNARDO  (approaching  daughter) 

Ginevra ! 

(He  catches  her  as  she  swoons  and  the  Mother  applies  the  cus 
tomary  remedies.) 

FRANCESCO  (returning  cautiously) 
What!  also  fair  Ginevra,  my  pure  wife? 

BERNARDO  (bitterly) 
Yes,  "also"! 

MOTHER. 

Yes,  and  your  pure  wife,  whose  life 
Was  light  perpetual  at  the  Virgin's  shrine. 

BERNARDO. 
You  dastard !  you  shall  answer  for  your  deed. 

FRANCESCO  (to  Mother) 
See  if  the  dread  spot  is  upon  her  arm. 

MOTHER  (uncovering  Ginevra's  arm) 
Look!  there  it  is!  The  Plague!  Oh! 

FRANCESCO. 

Toll  the  bell! 

(Francesco  goes  to  bell  and  tolls  it.     The  Jester  plucks  flowers 
and  makes  a  wreath.) 


GINEVEA  45 

MOTHER  (kneeling) 
O  Father !  unto  Thee  do  I  return 
The  child  Thou  gavest  me  that  she  might  know, 
Love,  serve  Thee ;  nor  with  less  a  mother's  joy 
Do  I  return  her,  than  when  I  received. 
Lord !    Thou  whose  glorious  life  it  is  to  lower 
Upon  the  earth  to  help  those  stricken  blind 
With  sin,  or  grief,  or  death,  to  reach  the  height 
Above  the  clouds  that  mystify  this  life, 
Touch  my  poor  child's  dark  eyes,  that  she  have  sight 
Which  is  the  soul's  ascension  into  Heaven. 

BERNARDO  (raising  her) 
Come,  poor  Ginevra's  spirit  is  at  peace. 
'T  is  perilous,  if  we  stay  longer  here. 

MOTHER  (returning  to  Ginevra) 
Ginevra,  oh,  Ginevra !    oh,  my  child ! 
My  baby  born  anew  and  in  my  arms ! 
My  nursling  at  the  breast,  with  round  red  mouth 
Open,  as  are  your  eyes  with  sparkle,  when 
Between  your  sips  you  look  up  in  my  face, 
Like  a  wee  birdie  drinking  at  the  spring ! 

BERNARDO  (touching  her  arm) 
Come,  come ! 

MOTHER. 

My  darling,  I  behold  again 
Your  consciousness  reflect  your  mother  first 
And  broaden  till  it  mirrors  all  the  world ! 
Again,  a  toddler,  you  stray  far  from  home 
Into  a  graveyard  where  you  fall  asleep. 
Oh,  that  again  I  could  wake  you,  my  child, 
And  bring  you  home  rejoicing — that  again 
You  might  say :    "I  will  go  away  no  more !" 

BERNARDO. 
Come! 


46  GINEVRA 

MOTHER. 

Let  me  shut  her  eyes  and  fold  her  hands. 
My  daughter!   oh,  my  daughter!    There  you  smile 
Upon  me  in  your  first  Communion  dress 
Which  you  yourself  embroidered !    For  your  skill 
At  needlework  was  marvellous  and  matched 
Your  rubrics  in  the  missal  in  your  hand. 

BERNARDO. 
Come! 

MOTHER. 

Oh,  my  only  child  brought  forth  alive! 
My  joy,  my  hope,  my  comfort !    My  Ginevra 
Who,  grown  a  woman  ere  I  was  aware, 
Was  dragged  forth  to  her  marriage,  as  a  lamb 
Is  dragged  forth  to  its  slaughter! 

(Chanting  of  Black  Company  is  heard.) 

BERNARDO. 

Here  they  come. 
MOTHER. 

Ginevra !    Oh,  Ginevra !    Just  one  word 
To  your  poor  mother!    Oh,  just  one  for  those 
That  she  was  wont  to  murmur  night  and  morn, 
While  yet  you  slept  unconscious  of  her  love ; 
For  now  you  are  the  Mother,  she,  the  child — 
The  mother  over  her  to  guide  her  soul, 
And  help  her  tear-blind,  tottering  flesh  to  stand 
And  not  fall  prone. 

BERNARDO. 

Come! 

MOTHER  (kissing  Ginevra) 

Oh,  if  but  this  kiss 

Upon  your  brow,  cheek,  mouth  and  your  closed  eyes 
Could  be  eternal !    Must  it  be  the  last  ? 

(She  is  forced  away  from  Ginevra 's  body  by  Bernardo  as  the 
Black  Company  enters.  The  Captain  falls  on  his  knees  and 
then  speaks  in  a  loud  voice) 


GINEVRA  47 

CAPTAIN. 

Lord!  if  upon  this  soul  there  still  remain 
A  shadow  to  detain  it  from  Thy  presence, 
For  only  purity  without  a  speck 
Can  enter  where  Thou  art  in  Thy  full  glory, 
The  guilt  is  mine,  and  mine  should  be  the  pain. 
I  was  this  soul's  confessor,  and  the  power 
And  grace  bestowed  me  by  Thy  Holy  Church 
Never  gave  me  such  beatific  joy 
As  when  Ginevra  was  my  penitent ; 
For,  from  her  girlhood  to  her  marriage  day 
Her  mind  and  heart,  a  lily  and  a  rose, 
Had  only  richest  fragrance  to  confess. 
If  stain  thereafter  fell  upon  this  soul, 
The  guilt  is  mine,  O  Lord !  in  that  I  sinned 
Against  the  Light  in  not  defending  her 
And  taking  from  Thy  hands  the  martyr's  crown. 
Oh,  keenly  I  repent,  and  trust,  good  Lord ! 
My  humble  service  to  the  sick"  and  dead 
Will  find  acceptance  by  Thy  clemency 
In  expiation  of  my  grievous  fault. 

JESTER  (putting  a  garland  on  Gin- 

evra's  head.) 

It  would  never  do  for  the  real  lady  of  the  house  to  go  out  with 
out  a  wreath  on  her  head. 

(The  'Captain  rises  and  begins  a  hymn  which  the  Company  take 
up  as  they  carry  Ginevra's  body  away  on  the  litter.  The 
Jester  throivs  away  the  donkey's  head  and  his  cap  and  bells 
and  falls  on  his  face  with  a  groan.) 

JESTER. 

O  Plague!  I  could  forgive  you  for  coming  here,  if  you  had 
only  spared  my  mistress.  You  might  have  taken  all  the  rest  of 
Florence,  but  you  should  have  spared  her.  O  Plague,  cruel 
Plague !  You  have  made  an  orphan  of  me  and  left  me  without 
a  friend  in  the  world.  Who  else  will  ever  peep  under  my  motley 


48  GINEVRA 

i 

merriment — the  cloak  that  I  throw  over  my  deformity — and  sigh 
to  see  there  a  crushed  human  heart?  (Moans  and  then  rises.) 
Oh,  I  shall  eat  no  more,  nor  drink,  but  will  go  to  my  lady's  tomb 
like  a  faithful  dog  and  never  be  driven  away.  Oh,  yes,  a  watch 
dog  I  shall  be  at  her  tomb,  for  my  mistress,  Ginevra,  has  the 
dazzling  ring  on  her  finger,  and  the  robbing  of  graves  is  a  common 
thing  these  days.  I  can  watch  as  well  inside  the  tomb  as  outside, 
and  besides,  if  I  should  nap,  even  my  faintest  snore  within  the 
sepulchre  would  be  enough  to  put  the  boldest  ghoul  of  them  to 
flight.  Ha— ha!  (Hurries  off.) 

CURTAIN. 


GINEVRA 


ACT    III. 


(A  large,  dark  vault  with  door  on  the  left,  and  outside  the  thor 
oughfare  is  shaded  by  the  campanile  of  a  church.  It  is  mid 
night  and  the  Jester  approaches  the  vault  door.) 

JESTER. 

Now  I  shall  enter  my  lady's  tomb,  and  with  my  eye  on  her 
ring,  I  shall  stand  over  her  body  without  fatigue,  as  though  I  were 
the  marble  statue  of  an  angel.  (He  tries  the  door  and  shakes  his 
head.)  What  a  pity  it  is  that  I  was  not  brought  up  a  sexton !  Oh, 
that  the  angel  who  helped  the  Marys  to  roll  away  the  stone  of 
old,  would  only  give  me  a  hand !  (Looking  around  he  spies  an 
iron  bar  and  pries  the  door  with  it.  He  hears  the  Black  Cow- 
pany  chanting  in  the  distance  and  hurries  at  his  work,  effecting 
an  opening  large  enough  to  squeeze  through  in  time  to  escape  dis 
covery.  He  crouches  in  the  tomb  and  the  Black  Company  halts.) 

CAPTAIN. 

One  boon,  dear  brethren,  suffer  me  to  ask, 

Great  as  the  need  of  haste  is  in  our  toil ; 

'T  is  that  whenever  you  approach  this  tomb, 

You  kneel  and  pray  in  silence  for  the  soul 

Whose  fleshly  shade  here  dwindles  into  dust, 

And,  in  atonement  for  my  grievous  fault, 

You  chant  the  Stabat  Mater  for  my  peace. 

(They  kneel,  are  silent  a  few  moments,  and  then  sing,  the  Captain 
leading.  At  the  conclusion  of  the  hymn  they  continue  their 
march.  The  Jester  works  his  way  out  through  the  door  and 
picks  up  the  tool.) 

JESTER. 

I  threw  away  the  donkey's  head,  but  retained  his  brain,  or  I 
would  have  taken  this  tool  in  with  me.  I  could  have  been  working 
all  the  time  that  they  were  praying  and  chanting  their  hymn,  and 
they  would  never  have  been  the  wiser.  Oh,  truly,  the  difference 
between  a  wise  man  and  a  fool  is  that  the  fool  throws  away  his 
wisdom  and  the  wise  man  keeps  it  to  himself  like  the  itch.  What 

51 


52  GINEVRA 

a  breeze!  It  is  worth  a  baker's  dozen  of  kingdoms  on  a  night 
like  this.  (Opens  the  door  and  is  startled  by  the  crimson  light 
from  the  cross  -which  now  appears  in  the  sky.)  Where  is  that 
flame  from  ?  Has  the  city  taken  fire  from  the  blaze  of  the  plague 
rubbish  which  lights  up  the  streets  wherever  you  go?  (Comes 
out  and  looks  up.)  No,  no.  A  Crimson  Cross?  Oh,  if  I  could 
only  wake  up  my  mistress  to  see  that  cross  in  the  air  without  a 
dome  to  hold  it.  It  is  a  blood-red  cross,  like  the  one  in  the  missal 
which  she  gave  me  to  take  to  Antonio  Rondinelli,  though  ten 
million  times  larger.  Who  knows  but  that  it  is  my  mistress, 
Ginevra,  who  now  illuminates  the  night  like  a  missal  with  her 
powers  increased  ten  million  fold  on  high?  Ah,  truly,  I  was 
meant  for  a  troubadour,  but  brought  up  to  the  trade  of  a  fool. 
(Re-enters  tomb  and,  hearing  Ginevra  sigh,  he  looks  up  and 
around  and  speaks  in  a  trembling  voice.)  Peace,  gentle  lady !  I 
forgot  my  promise  to  Rondinelli — to  tell  him  of  your  death.  I 
will  now  go  and  tell  him — that  you  have  departed  this  life — and 
that  you  are  now — at  re-st — in — the — tomb. 

(He  hurries  away.  There  is  a  red  glow  in  the  tomb  and  in  the 
thoroughfare  from  the  cross  in  the  sky.  Ginevra  stirs,  lifts 
her  hand  to  her  brow  and  feels  about  her.  She  rises  to  a 
sitting  posture  and  glares  around.  She  takes  the  wreath  off 
her  head  and,  gazing  at  it,  screams  faintly.) 

GINEVRA. 

God !    Can  it  be  that  I  am  dead  ?  entombed  ? 
It  is  a  funeral  wreath.    Help !   Mother !  Father ! 

(She  endeavors  to  get  off  the  bier.) 
My  feet  are  fastened.     Is  this  Purgatory 
Where  I  must  suffer  for  my  frailties  ? 
If  so  it  be,  no  murmur  shall  I  make, 
Except  the  prayer :    "God  grant  me  swift  release." 
How  strange  this  light !    Is  it  the  rays  of  Heaven 
Made  warmly  crimson  by  the  Saviour's  heart 
Through  which  they  pass  to  souls  that  suffer  here  ? 
But,  am  I  dead?    I  smell  the  charnel  damp. 
I  feel  this  wreath  and  break  it,  and  I  see 


G I N  E  V  R  A  53 

The  red  glow  of  the  place,  the  open  door 

And,  oh,  I  drink  thy  breezes,  O  my  God, 

As  tho'  they  were  Thy  spirit,  mouth  to  mouth! 

Am  I  deranged,  or  dreaming?    Oh,  my  heart 

Throbs  like  a  wounded  bird  within  the  hand, 

And  what  a  nightfall  is  my  brow  with  dew ! 

(Having  felt  her  heart  and  head,  she  bends  over  to  release  her 

feet,  but  is  soon  fatigued.) 

Help !    Would  my  limbs  were  loosened  from  this  weight 
That  I  might  reach  the  door  and  cry  aloud ! 
For  Florence  surely  then  would  have  one  ear, 
Of  all  its  thousands,  which  would  hark  and  heed. 
Oh,  I  am  like  a  murdered  body,  cast 
Into  the  river  with  a  mass  of  stone 
About  it  to  make  sure  that  it  would  sink, 
Never  to  rise !    This  is  Francesco's  work. 
God  knows  I  was  a  faithful  wife  to  him, 
That  never  did  I  let  a  thought,  or  dream, 
About  the  noble  one,  Antonio, 
Become  a  hope,  or  wish.    God !   grant  me  grace 
Unto  the  end  which  cannot  be  far  off, 
That  I  may  smear  not  with  the  faintest  breath 
The  crystal  of  my  duty  as  a  wife, 
Although  I  spoke  the  word  with  absent  soul 
And  felt  the  altar  there  a  blasphemy. 

(The  chanting  of  the  White  Penitents  is  heard  in  the  distance.) 
Ah,  hope  at  last !    Here  come  the  Penitents. 
O  God !   again  I  thank  Thee  for  Thy  breeze 
Which  gives  me  strength  and  voice  to  hail  for  help. 

(The  White  Penitents  pass  along  the  street  chanting  the  ''Miseri- 
cordia.") 

Help,  help,  kind  souls !   Release  me  from  this  tomb. 

(The  Penitents  halt  and  look  bewildered.) 
Help!   help  me  for  the  sake  of  Him  who,  when 
Expiring  on  the  cross,  cried  out  aloud : 
"My  God!  my  God!  Hast  Thou  forsaken  Me?" 


54  GINEVRA 

LEADER  (to  Penitents) 
An  evil  spirit !    Heed  it  not.    Pass  on. 

(The  Penitents  resume  their  march,  chanting.) 

GINEVRA. 

God!  is  there  then  no  one  to  heed  my  moan? 

Am  I  beyond  the  reach  of  human  help, 

Tho'  scarce  five  paces  from  the  open  door? 

(  She  bends  over  and  looks  dorvn  on  the  floor.) 

Oh,  little  brown  earth-worm,  so  slow  of  creep, 

Thou  yet  shalt  reach  the  door,  but  never  I !    (Weeps.) 

God,  take  from  me  this  longing  to  invoke 

The  name  of  fair  and  fond  Antonio ; 

For,  if  I  only  were  to  whisper  it, 

And  Florence  were  a  ceaseless  thunder  roar, 

I  know  that  he  would  hear  and  haste  to  me, 

And  free  me  from  this  most  appalling  doom. 

God !  grant  me  strength  to  break  this  band,  for,  oh ! 

A  few  steps  to  the  open  door,  and  then 

I  am  among  the  living  once  again. 

(She  endeavors  to  unfasten  the  band  and,  after  a  protracted  strug 
gle,  succeeds  at  the  point  of  exhaustion.  She  lets  herself 
down  from  the  bier  and,  after  standing  a  moment,  totters 
and  falls  in  a  swoon.  Meanwhile  Antonio  is  seen  approach 
ing  the  tomb.) 

ANTONIO  (entering  the  tomb) 
Adorable  Ginevra!   is  it  thus 
I  find  your  body  ?    They  have  flung  it  down, 
As  tho'  it  were  the  carcase  of  a  dog! 
Oh,  faithful  soul !   the  ring  is  on  your  finger, 
And  it  shall  stay  forever  in  your  keep. 
(Bends  over  and  is  about  to  kiss  her  brow,  but  stands  up  with  a 

shudder.) 

No,  no !    It  must  not  be.    No  lure  of  flesh 
Drew  me  to  fair  Ginevra  when  alive, 
But  her  pure  spirit ;  and,  now  that  she  is  dead, 
To  touch  her  cheek  or  forehead  with  my  lips, 


GINEVRA  55 

Would  be  a  deed  akin  to  sacrilege. 

(He  lifts  her  body  from  the  floor  and  rearranges  wreath  on  her 

brow.) 

Oh,  if  my  bosom  were  thy  bier,  dear  love ! 
How  then  my  eyes  would  find  eternal  peace 
In  resting  on  thy  countenance  divine! 
How,  till  the  Day  of  Judgment,  I  could  watch 
That,  then,  your  liberated  soul  and  mine 
Might  clasp  each  other  by  the  hand,  and  go 
Before  the  Judge  for  judgment  of  our  love — 
Whether  or  no  it  has  not  been  a  lark 
In  the  high  heaven  of  its  own  melody, 
Since  it  was  driven  forever  from  the  earth? 
Oh,  could  you  know  how  I  have  longed  for  death, 
So  that  my  soul,  set  free,  might  soar  to  Heaven 
And  there  procure  the  panoply  of  grace 
To  shield  your  peace  from — if  not  menace — harm ! 
You  are  the  guardian  angel  now  to  me. 
Oh,  I  shall  be  a  hermit  and  dwell  here ! 
Your  tomb  shall  be  my  cell.    My  beads  shall  be 
The  memories  of  all  the  mirthful  hours 
We  spent  together,  since  our  eyes  first  met 
Until  the  day  of  days,  which  hope  beheld 
Descending  from  high  Heaven  to  take  command 
Of  all  the  sun-plumed  troop,  was  backward  hurled 
With  the  abruptness  of  a  thunderbolt, 
When  there  was  not  a  cloud  in  all  the  sky. 
These  beads  shall  I  recount  beside  your  bier, 
And  should  I  pause,  Ginevra,  it  will  be 
To  shape  my  meditations  and  my  dreams 
Into  a  crown  of  art  to  deck  your  brow 
In  the  full  vision  of  the  world,  that  all 
Who  truly  love  may  hail  you  as  their  queen. 

(He  stoops,  and  lifting  the  worm,  throws  it  out  of  the  door.) 
Out,  little  brown-earth-worm !    I  am  the  page, 
Rather  than  you,  to  wait  upon  this  queen. 


56  GINEVRA 

(He  kneels,  crosses  himself  before  and  after  a  silent  prayer,  and 

arising,  goes  toward  the  door.) 
If  I  go  now  to  get  the  things  I  need, 
I  can  be  back  ere  Florence  is  awake. 
(He  goes  out  of  the  tomb,  and  zvhen  about  to  shut  the  door  fast, 

desists.) 

Ah,  no,  no,  no !    I  circumvent  myself 
If  I  disturb  the  vault  door  from  the  way 
That  it  was  left — the  careless,  heartless  way! 
For,  if  the  door,  left  open,  should  be  shut, 
The  news  would  soon  reach  Agolanti's  ears 
And  he  would  know  the  hand  that  shut  the  door, 
And  take  good  care,  then,  to  cement  it  fast. 
(Antonio  goes  into  the  street  and  disappears.     Ginevra  awakes 

and  rises  from  the  bier  as  if  with  pain.    She  steps  upon  the 

floor  and  looks  around.) 

GINEVRA. 

How  long  have  I  been  here  ?  was  it  a  dream 
My  feet  were  fastened  ? — that  I  burst  the  band 
And,  wild  with  hope  to  reach  the  open  door, 
I  leaped  down  from  this  bier,  but  was  swirled  round 
With  giddiness  half-way  and  fell  in  the  dark? 
God  grant  me  now  the  strength  to  reach  the  door. 

(She  moves  slowly  out  of  the  tomb.) 
Out !  out !    Thank  God.    Out  of  the  tomb  at  last ! 
I  will  make  haste  now  to  my  husband's  house, 
And,  if  my  suffering  be  the  means  of  grace 
For  his  redemption,  I  am  well  content. 
(She  makes  her  way  to  the  street,  but  suddenly  stops  and  utters    ' 

her  words  in  a  moan.) 
Yet  oh,  to  live  again!     God  pity  me. 
I  never  dreaded  death  as  I  dread  life. 
Oh,  death  has  not  such  terrors  as  has  life 
Devoid  of  love,  that  must  be  lived  again ! 

) 

CURTAIN.  ' 


GINEVRA 
ACT  IV. 


(Loggia  of  the  Agolanti  Palace  as  in  Act  II.    Bernardo  paces  up 
and  down,  mentally  disturbed.) 

FRANCESCO    (pointing  to  the  Cross 

in  the  Heavens) 

What  can  it  mean  ?  A  sign  of  the  Plague's  abatement, 
As  was  the  rainbow  ?  Hardly ;  for  the  Cross 
Is  deeper  crimson  than  the  setting  sun 
Upon  a  sultry  day,  when  it  forebodes 
A  hotter  morrow. 

BERNARDO  (sharply) 

What  it  means  is  plain. 

FRANCESCO. 
Plain? 

BERNARDO. 

Nothing  could  be  plainer.    "Tis  that  Heaven, 
Indignant  that  we  have  allowed  the  Turk 
To  keep  possession  of  the  Holy  Land, 
Has  sent  an  angel  host,  too  dazzling  bright 
For  human  eye,  to  bear  the  Cross  aloft 
And  by  its  glory  rouse  our  sleeping  zeal. 
It  has  roused  me  already.    I  intend, 
Francesco,  to  dispose  of  all  my  goods 
And  lead  a  Knightly  troop  to  Palestine. 

FRANCESCO. 
God  speed  you. 

BERNARDO. 

Will  you  come? 

FRANCESCO   (laughing  faintly) 

No!  Italy 

Holds  me  too  firmly  with  her  delicate  hands 
Of  Art  and  Beauty.  You  can  take  the  fool, 
He  is  good  company  where  cheer  is  scarce. 

59 


60  GINEVRA 

.MOTHER  (opening  the  door) 
Bernardo,  let  us  go. 

BERNARDO    (pointing    to   sign   over 
door) 

Look!  "Sanitas!" 
No  one  can  leave  this  house. 

MOTHER. 

I  cannot  stay. 

My  anguish  here  increases.    Everything 
I  see  or  hear  about  the  place,  becomes 
The  mournful  frame  of  what  I  fail  to  see 
And  fail  to  hear — my  poor  Ginevra ! 

BERNARDO. 

Patience 

And  resignation  you  have  preached  to  me ; 
Employ  them,  or  you  may  disturb  her  peace. 
Enter  the  house.    You  need  repose. 

MOTHER. 

Repose  ? 

Oh,  how  repose  when — look !    the  heavens  become 
Mount  Calvary,  whose  Crimson  Cross  looks  down 
Upon  the  world  with  Christ's  reproachful  glance 
To  Peter,  that  he  had  denied  Him  thrice. 
O  God !   well  may  the  world  weep  bitterly, 
Like  Peter  at  the  ctowing  of  the  cock. 

BERNARDO    (leading    wife    towards 

door) 
Francesco  and  I  have  business  to  transact. 

MOTHER  (drawing  away  and  drop 
ping  on  her  knees) 

Wherein  have  I  denied  Thee,  Lord  ?    By  Pride  ? 
Oh,  pardon  me  my  least  unloving  thought 
Of  those  beneath  me ;  as  hadst  Thou  not  made 


GINEVRA  61 

The  poor  Thy  brethren  closest  to  Thy  heart, 
And  honor  them  above  the  rank  of  Kings 
In  being  Thyself  the  most  despised  of  men ! 
Ah !  rather  this  has  been  my  grievous  sin — 
I  put  my  child  before  Thee  in  my  love ! 
Else,  Thou  wouldst  have  spared  her  and  let  her  live. 
Oh !  I  shall  wear  the  weeds  of  penitence 
And  trudge  the  streets  barefooted  for  my  guilt. 
(Rises  and  enters  the  Palace.) 

FRANCESCO  (whispering  to  Bernardo) 
'Tis  well  that  we  withheld  from  both  of  them 
The  knowledge  that  the  Bishop  had  annulled 
The  marriage. 

BERNARDO. 

I  regret  it  bitterly. 
It  was  unfatherly  beyond  defense, 
Or  hope  of  pardon.    How  am  I  to  meet 
My  daughter's  soul  hereafter,  as  I  must, 
Before  the  Judge  of  Judges? 

FRANCESCO. 

Why  ask  me  ? 

BERNARDO. 

Oh,  how  can  I  set  eyes  on  her  again  ? 
Not  all  the  fiends  in  hell  can  drag  me  forth 
From  out  my  hiding  place  to  look  on  her, 
After  a  crime  so  heinous !  Oh,  my  God ! 
The  blush  upon  my  cheek  shall  burn  for  ever, 
Like  a  live  coal,  though  I  should  expiate 
The  infamy  by  twenty  thousand  deaths, 
And  every  death  should  be  a  crush  of  bone 
From  heel  to  skull  by  inches !   inches !   inches ! 

FRANCESCO. 

If  you  have  business  to  transact  with  me, 
Be  quick.    I  need  a  change  of  scene  and  rest. 


62  GINEVRA 

BERNARDO  (pointing  to  the  sign  on 

the  door) 
There  is  no  change  of  scene  while  that  is  there. 

FRANCESCO. 

Well,  to  begin  the  business,  let  me  say 
It  cost  me  dearly  every  time  the  clerk 
Deferred  the  serving  of  the  Court's  decree 
Upon  Ginevra.   Inasmuch  as  you 
Coerced  the  priest  with  raised  sword  and  not  I, 
And  held  her  hand  when  I  put  on  the  ring, 
You  must  allow  me  all  that  I  have  paid 
For  the  suppression  of  the  Bishop's  verdict. 

BERNARDO. 
How  much  ? 

FRANCESCO. 
Two  thousand — 

BERNARDO. 

Zounds ! 

FRANCESCO  (coolly) 

Not  "zounds",  but  florins. 

BERNARDO. 
I  pay  no  part  of  that. 

FRANCESCO. 

You  must  pay  all. 

BERNARDO. 

"Must"  is  a  word  to  menials.    Bear  in  mind, 
Francesco  Agolanti,  you  have  failed 
To  help  me  rise  to  power. 

FRANCESCO. 

Whose  fault  was  that ? 
You  would  not  melt  like  metal  to  be  shaped 
As  all  men  have  to  do  in  public  life, 


G1NEVRA  63 

But  would,  forsooth,  at  once  be  Vulcan's  self ! 
All  that  is  passed.    Now  to  my  claim.    The  marriage 
Was  brought  about  by  you ;    I  but  complied 
To  serve  your  purpose  that  I  might  help  mine. 

BERNARDO    (after    pacing    up    and 

down) 
Ginevra  dying  childless — 

FRANCESCO. 

Oh,  I  know, 

Two-thirds  of  what  she  brought  me  is  your  due ! 
And  you  will  get  it,  less  what  I  disbursed 
To  balk  the  Bishop. 

BERNARDO   (sharply) 
When? 

FRANCESCO. 

As  soon  as  the  Plague 

Has  run  its  course.    What  is  all  business  now 
But  mockery  ?  for,  haggle  as  we  may, 
Only  the  Plague  can  figure  up  a  gain. 

BERNARDO. 

There  is  no  cause  for  haggling,  for  two  thirds 
Mean  just  two-thirds — no  more,  no  less. 

FRANCESCO. 

My  claim 

Is  disallowed  then  ?    Very  well,  Bernardo ! 
But  let  me  tell  you  that  your  parsimony, 
Which  sharpens  like  your  nose  and  tongue  with  age, 
May  be  too  sharp  to  serve  your  purpose  well. 

BERNARDO. 

Two  hundred  thousand  florins  are  my  due. 
When  shall  I  get  it  ? 


64  GINEVRA 

FRANCESCO  (after  a  pause) 

Just  as  soon,  Bernardo, 
As  I  effect  a  fortunate  alliance. 

BERNARDO. 

What !  have  your  riotings  impoverished  you  ? 
If  I  get  not  my  due  within  ten  days, 
I  shall  exact  the  forfeit — not  so  much 
For  the  amount  involved ;  though  it  will  help 
Me  to  equip  a  Knightly  Company 
To  reach  the  Holy  Land — as  to  avenge 
The  wrong  my  child  has  suffered  at  your  hands. 

FRANCESCO. 
What  forfeit? 

BERNARDO. 

Is  your  memory  befogged? 
This  palace  is  the  forfeit.    I  took  care 
In  the  agreement  not  to  be  befooled, 
For  I  surmised  then  what  has  since  occurred. 

FRANCESCO. 

Ten  days !    At  present  I  have  no  resources. 
I  have  in  mind  a  widow  worth  my  debt 
Many  times  over,  who  would  gladly  help 
Me  save  my  ancient  palace  from  your  seizure, 
Provided  there  be  no  unseemly  haste. 

(The  Roysterers  are  heard  shouting.) 

BERNARDO. 
All  Florence  has  gone  mad.    Where  are  you  going? 

FRANCESCO  (starting  to  go) 
Theirs  is  the  only  way  to  foil  the  Plague. 

BERNARDO  (drawing  sword) 
Francesco  Agolanti !    not  a  step. 
Would  you  insult  my  daughter's  memory 


GINEVRA  65 

And,  by  your  rioting  ere  she  is  cold, 
Confirm  a  most  atrocious  falsity 
Reflecting  on  her  honor  as  your  wife? 

FRANCESCO  (placing  his  hand  on  his 
sword  but  resisting  the 
impulse) 

Bernardo  Amieri,  you  are  right. 
Such  mad  behavior  as  to  dance  and  sing 
Upon  the  day  she  died  and  was  entombed, 
Might  look,  in  sooth,  that  I  believe  Ginevra 
Unworthy  of  a  husband's  reverence; 
And  truly  I  revere  her.    Her  fair  fame 
Needs  not  the  confirmation  of  strange  signs 
And  wonders  after  death,  to  prove  it  true. 

BERNARDO   (with  concern) 
What  do  you  mean,  Francesco? 

FRANCESCO. 

Oh !  it  troubles 

Me  sorely  when  I  think  of  it.     Enraged 
By  Rumor's  blackening  bite,   Ginevra  flung 
Herself  upon  her  knees,  and  with  her  eyes 
Turned  Heavenward  with  the  whiteness  of  her  soul, 
Prayed  that  she  be  permitted  to  return 
To  show  me  by  strange  signs  that  she  was  pure. 

BERNARDO. 
God  rest  her  soul. 

FRANCESCO. 

Amen. 

BERNARDO. 

Ah!   if  Ginevra 
Is  not  in  Heaven,  small  chance  has  any  of  us. 

(The  Roysterers  are  heard  louder) 
Hurry  in,  lest  they  see  us.     Shut  the  door. 


66  GINEVRA 

FRANCESCO  (after  a  pause) 
"Ten  days,"  you  say  ? 

BERNARDO  (with  determination) 
Ten  days  at  most. 

FRANCESCO. 

The  Plague 

May  disarrange  your  schedule,  Amieri ! 

And  be  more  merciful  to  me  than  you. 

(Bernardo  opens  the  door,  and  when  Francesco  enters  the  palace, 
follows  him.  The  Roysterers  appear  on  the  street,  many  of 
them  richly  attired  women  with  dishevelled  hair  and  carrying 
musical  instruments.  The  Chief  Roysterer  goes  to  the  palace 
door  and  pulling  down  the  sign,  "Sanitas,"  throivs  it  to  his 
companions  who  jump  and  dance  upon  it.) 

CHIEF  ROYSTERER. 
Viva  Francesco  Agolanti ! 

(They  repeat  Francesco's  name  and  cheer  lustily.) 
Francesco  Agolanti !   open  the  palace  door,  for  we  ha-ve  come  on 
the  noblest  of  missions.    We  have  come  to  make  the  most  popular 
citizen  of  our  City  the  President  of  the  Florentine  Republic. 

(They  repeat  Francesco's  name  and  cheer  wildly.) 
Francesco  Agolanti,  if  he  had  been  in  office,  would  never  have 
permitted  the  Plague,  or  any  other  legate  of  the  devil  to  enter 
our  City. 

(They  cheer.) 

Were  Francesco  Agolanti  in  office,  as  he  should  have  been,  if  the 
popular  will  had  not  been  frustrated,  the  Plague  with  its  hungry 
troop  of  evils  would  not  have  been  allowed  to  drive  us  out  of  our 
happy  homes  and  provide  for  us  no  shelter  but  the  grave. 

(They  call  out  for  Francesco.) 

Francesco  Agolanti,  we  call  on  you  to  help  us  out  of  our  trouble. 
You  promised  us  that  if  you  were  ever  elected  President  of  the 
Republic,  evils  of  any  kind  would  be  unknown  in  our  City.  We 
call  on  you  now  to  save  us.  Come  out,  or  we  will  apply  the 
torch  to  every  palace  in  Florence,  and,  like  Nero,  dance  and  sing 


GINEVRA  67 

at  sight  of  the  flames.    The  city  is  all  plague  rubbish  anyhow,  and 
might  as  well  go  up  in  one  blaze. 

JESTER    (entering   and   in   a   dear 

stentorian  voice.) 

Francesco  Agolanti !  Now  that  your  friends  have  serenaded  you, 
their  throats  are  thirsty.  There  is  no  encore  to  a  song  like  a  glass 
of  wine.  An  empty  stomach  and  an  empty  flagon  are  the  devil's 
own  match,  and  what  the  devil  has  joined,  man  should  put 
asunder.  Ha!  Ha! 

(They  cheer  the  Jester  and  call  out  for  Francesco.) 

CHIEF  ROYSTERER. 

Francesco  Agolanti !  Why  do  you  stubbornly  keep  in  doors  ? 

Have  you  discovered  the  cloister  beneath  your  palace  roof,  and 
found  such  comfort  in  it  that  you  already  prefer  a  monk's  life, 
secluded  from  the  world,  the  flesh  and  the  devil  ? 

JESTER. 
I  can  answer  for  my  master  on  that  score. 

ROYSTERERS. 

The  fool !  the  fool !  Let  us  hear  what  the  fool  has  to  say  on 
behalf  of  his  master. 

JESTER  (pointing  at  the  chief  roys- 

terer) 

On  behalf  of  my  master,  I  want  to  say  that  you  are  a  cross 
eyed,  hair-lipped,  bald-headed  liar! 

(They  laugh) 

You  could  not  see  straight,  though  you  had  a  pair  of  eyes  one 
before  the  other,  like  horses  going  tandem.  You  have  a  mouth 
that  is  the  ugliest  instrument  of  torture  in  Christendom,  for  it 
twists  and  cracks  the  bones  of  truth  by  an  inuendo  imputing 
treason  to  a  faithful  wife.  If  debauchery  had  left  a  single 
honest  hair  on  your  head,  you  would  now  drop  on  your  knees  and 
mumble  your  pater  nosier  until  the  Plague  comes  along,  and 


68  G1NEVRA 

catching  a  glimpse  of  you,  throws  up  his  job  in  disgust  and  quits 
the  city  rather  than  touch  so  vile  a  monster  even  with  his  finger 
nail.  Ha-ha!  Ha-ha!  Ha-ha!  Ha-ha! 

CHIEF  ROYSTERER. 

Ha !  Ha !  Since  Francesco  Agolanti  will  not  come  out,  what  say 
.you,  friends,  if  we  make  his  fool  the  President  of  the  Florentine 
Republic  in  his  stead  ? 

ROYSTERERS. 

The  fool !  the  fool !  We  acclaim  the  fool  the  President  of  the 
Florentine  Republic. 

JESTER. 

No!  No!  I  protest!  I  would  not  give  up  my  liberty  to  tell  the 
truth  without  fear  or  favor  or  respect  of  person,  for  all  the 
Presidencies  in  the  world. 

CHIEF  ROYSTERER. 

Your  objection  is  overruled.  Up  on  my  shoulders  for  your 
inaugural  address. 

(Seizes  the  Jester  and  lifts  him  on  his  shoulders.) 

JESTER. 

Illustrious  Florentines!  there  is  an  unbroken  line  of  fools  in 
public  office  down  to  the  days  of  Solomon  ;  but  there  is  a  difference 
between  these  fools.  Some  of  them  were  the  wisest  men  of  their 
times  before  they  entered  office  and  the  biggest  fools  in  history, 
immediately  afterward;  while  others  were  happy  fools  at  the 
start  and  woful  wise  men  at  the  finish. 

ROYSTERERS. 
Tell  us  how  to  banish  the  Plague. 

JESTER. 
Illustrious  Florentines !   Give  me  eternity  to  think  that  over. 

ROYSTERERS. 

No!  No! 


GINEVRA  69 

JESTER. 

I  have  already  several  differences  of  opinion  with  the  Al 
mighty.  Why  does  not  the  sun  shine  at  night  when  there  is 
need  of  its  big  lantern,  instead  of  in  the  day  when  the  light  is 
so  strong  in  your  eyes  that  you  walk  straight  into  a  puddle? 

ROYSTERERS. 
Give  the  answer  now,  or  we  will  stone  you  to  death. 

JESTER. 

You  shall  have  the  answer  by  all  means,  for  I  am  not  a  saint 
who  can  pick  up  his  head  from  the  ground  and  run  away  with  it 
in  his  hand.  The  answer  is,  have  a  new  order  of  things — change 
the  Government. 

Whenever  in  former  years,  a  plague,  or  a  famine,  or  a  drouth, 
entered  our^ity,  you  never  thought  of  making  a  change  in  the 
Government,  but  let  things  go  on  as  they  were  before.  The 
famine,  the  Plague  and  the  drouth  entered  our  homes  and  de 
stroyed  them  whenever  they  pleased  without  so  much  as  asking  the 
city's  leave.  They  should  have  been  declared  heretics  and  burnt 
at  the  stake  hundreds  of  miles  away  from  Florence,  and  that  is 
what  I  propose  to  do  for  the  next  thousand  years,  if  the  gentle 
man's  shoulders  sustain  my  presidency  that  long. 

ROYSTERERS  (in  chorus) 
They  will !  they  will ! 

JESTER. 

Furthermore,  let  me  tell  you,  most  illustrious  Florentines !  that 
I  shall  not  curry  favor  with  the  populace  by  encouraging  any 
popular  delusion,  and,  therefore,  though  I  should  be  immediately 
expelled  from  my  exalted  office  and  driven  out  of  the  city,  I  deny 
that  a  dead  body  has  not  the  breath  of  life  in  it.  I  deny  it,  for  this 
very  night  the  dead  body  of  my  lady  gave  a  sigh  that  startled  me 
like  a  clap  of  thunder,  and  in  good  faith,  took  the  breath  out  of 
me.  I  hobbled  to  Antonio  Rondinelli  as  fast  as  my  legs  could 
carry  me. 


70  GINEVRA 

CHIEF  ROYSTERER. 

Antonio  Rondinelli !  Ha !  ha !  ha !  The  fool  knew  where  to 
bring  the  good  news.  Vulma  knew  what  she  was  talking  about 
when  she  said  that  Francesco  Agolanti  was  the  blindest  man  in 
Florence. 

JESTER. 

Ever  since,  I've  been  asking  myself  is  there  such  a  thing  as 
death,  and  have  come  to  believe  with  the  poets  that  love  outlasts 
the  breath  of  the  nostrils,  that  it  survives  the  senses  and  all  the 
faculties,  and  therefore,  say  I,  love  each  other,  O  ye  Florentines, 
if  you  would  be  immortal ! 

CHIEF  ROYSTERER. 
We  will  be  immortals ! 

ROYSTERERS  (in  chorus)    % 
Yes,  immortals !  immortals ! 

(They  swing  each  other  by  the  hand  and  kiss  each  other  in 
turn) 

TESTER. 

By  the  virtue  and  power  invested  in  me  as  the  president  of  the 
Florentine  Republic  pro  tern,  de  facto,  provisional,  or  perpetual, 
as  the  case  may  be,  I  proclaim  that  all  lovers  in  Florence  are  ex 
empt  from  Death.  (The  Roysterers  cheer.)  This  edict,  however, 
does  not  affect  those  already  in  their  hiding  places  in  the  earth, 
for  Florence  has  housing  accomodations  for  no  more  than  the 
present  generation,  and  could  not  even  give  standing  room  in  the 
street  for  a  thousandth  part  of  the  revered  pilgrims  of  love  that 
would  come  from  the  ages  that  are  gone.  It  would  be  a  blessing 
though,  if  all  came,  for  they  would  crowd  out  from  our  city  the 
white  livered  penitents  who,  between  their  whining  by  day  and 
snoring  by  night,  prevent  an  honest  man  from  snatching  a  wink 
of  sleep. 

CHIEF  ROYSTERER. 

Now  for  a  triumphal  march  through  the  streets  of  Florence. 
Pluck  down  every  sign  of  mourning  from  the  houses  on  our  way, 


GINEVRA  71 

for  when  there  is  no  death,  why   should  there  be  mourning? 

Start  the  Music !   March ! 

(With  the  Jester  remaining  on  the  Chief  Roysterer's  shoulders, 
they  move  away  keeping  time  to  the  tune  of  the  instruments. 
The  Penitents  approach,  singing  a  hymn,  and  Ginevra's 
mother  opening  the  palace  door,  comes  out  robed  in  peniten 
tial  garb.) 

MOTHER. 

Permit  me,  dear,  kind  souls,  to  follow  you 

In  ceaseless  pilgrimage  to  purge  my  soul. 

I  am  the  greatest  sinner  in  the  world ; 

For  they  who  have  large  knowledge  of  God's  love, 

Sin  far  more  greatly  by  the  smallest  slight, 

Than  those  who  know  not,  do  by  gross  offense. 

Yea,  I  shall  walk  barefoot  like  all  the  rest. 

(The  Penitents  continue  their  march  without  seeming  to  heed 
Donna  Amieri,  who  removes  her  shoes  and  throws  them  on 
the  ground.  She  follows  the  Penitents,  and  as  they  depart, 
Ginevra  is  discovered  making  her  way  wearily  to  the  Palace 
door.  Midway,  she  sees  the  shoes  and  puts  them  on  her 
feet.) 

GINEVRA. 

0  pilgrim  !  who  has  cast  these  shoes  away, 

1  thank  you ;  for  my  feet,  indeed,  need  warmth. 

(Goes  to  door  and  knocks,  but  makes  faint  sound.) 
Oh !  were  my  feet  as  rapid  as  my  heart,  , 

I  might  have  reached  those  pious  souls  in  time 
To  help  me  wake  my  husband  from  his  sleep. 
Francesco ! 

(She  calls  his  name  several  times,  then  goes  to  his  window 
and  shakes  it.) 

FRANCESCO  (at  window) 

Who  is  it  that  calls  my  name? 

GINEVRA. 

Ginevra. 

FRANCESCO. 

Who? 


72  GINEVRA 

GINEVRA. 
Your  wife. 

FRANCESCO. 

That  cannot  be. 

My  wife,  the  pure  Ginevra,  died  to-day, 
And  at  sunset  we  laid  her  in  the  tomb. 

GINEVRA. 

That  well  I  know,  Francesco !  but  the  light 
From  the  triumphant  Cross  now  making  morn 
Of  midnight,  touched  my  eyes,  and  I  awoke, 
And  you  behold  me  come  back  from  the  tomb. 

FRANCESCO. 

Poor  spirit !  Go  in  peace.    I  shall  have  masses 
Said  daily,  and  give  alms  for  your  repose. 

GINEVRA. 

Open  the  door,  Francesco !   I  am  cold. 
My  teeth  are  chattering  and  my  flesh  is  numb. 
I  feel  the  charnel  damp  in  all  my  bones. 

FRANCESCO. 

Whether  you  are  Ginevra's  soul,  or  fiend 
That  takes  its  semblance,  I  bid  you  avaunt ! 

GINEVRA. 

My  husband — oh,  my  husband,  feel  my  hand ! 
Am  I  impure  that  you  now  shrink  from  me  ? 

FRANCESCO. 

Oh,  never  purer  woman  than  my  wife! 
No  need  has  she  to  come  forth  from  the  grave 
To  prove  her  sanctity  while  on  the  earth. 
All  Florence  was  its  witness. 


GINEVRA  73 

GINEVRA. 

Still,  Francesco, 
You  thought  me  faithless ! 

FRANCESCO. 

Never !  by  the  Cross 
That  shines  aloft,  I  swear  it. 

GINEVRA. 

You  did  think 

Me  faithless,  for  with  raised  sword  you  bade  me 
To  show  you  where  Antonio  was  hid. 
Ah!    the  remembrance  of  that  cruel  word, 
Francesco,  stings  me — oh,  a  thousand  times 
Worse  than  the  charnel  house's  biting  cold ! 

FRANCESCO. 

Not  ever  in  my  heart  was  there  one  doubt ! 
I  swear  it.    Falsehood,  tho'  it  drags  its  victims 
In  countless  thousands  to  the  sepulchre, 
Drops  dead  the  instant  that  it  lays  a  hand 
Upon  Ginevra  Agolanti's  name. 

GINEVRA. 

Ever  was  I  a  faithful  wife,  else,  truly, 
I  would  not  have  returned  to-night  to  you. 
Open  the  door !   I  perish  with  the  cold. 
My  head  is  dizzy  and  I  scarce  can  stand. 

BERNARDO  (at  window,  having  thrust 

Francesco  aside) 
Who  is  it  speaks? 

GINEVRA. 

Your  daughter,  your  Ginevra. 
My  father !  oh,  my  father !  take  me  in. 

BERNARDO. 

Blest  spirit !  what  is  it  that  troubles  you  ? 
If  harm  committed  by  your  hand,  or  heart, 


74  GINEVRA 

Impedes  your  progress  to  eternal  peace, 
Tell  me  what  reparation  I  can  make, 
And  I  shall  make  it. 

GINEVRA. 

And  you  doubt  me,  too, 
My  father  ?  oh,  my  father !  I  could  suffer 
The  Purgatorial  pains  a  thousand  years, 
Rather  than  you  should  doubt  me. 

BERNARDO. 

Peace,  poor  soul! 

I  shall  have  masses  said  in  every  church, 
And  shall  distribute  alms  to  all  the  poor, 
And  help  regain  the  Holy  Sepulchre, 
For  your  soul's  comfort  and  untroubled  rest. 

GINEVRA. 
There  is  no  peace  forever  now  for  me.  } 

BERNARDO. 

Tell  me,  dear  child,  what  is  it  troubles  you  ? 
Oh,  tell  me  do  you  suffer  from  the  curse 
Which  Holy  Writ  declares  is  visited 
On  children  to  the  seventh  generation 
For  the  transgressions  of  their  parents  ?  Speak ! 

GINEVRA. 

Aye  verily!  I  suffer  from  that  curse. 
It  has  brought  me  to  this  most  wretched  plight. 

BERNARDO. 

Oh,  tell  me,  have  the  Amieri  failed 
Ever  in  duty?    They  have  builded  chapels 
And  hospitals,  have  fed  and  clothed  the  poor, 
And  they  have  dashed  their  blood,  like  Holy  Water, 
Into  the  devil's  mocking,  Moslem  face 
In  battle  for  the  Blest  Redeemer's  tomb. 


G1NEVRA  75 

GINEVRA   (with  a  sigh) 

Oh,  Yes!  but  gifts  to  God  rise  black  to  heaven, 
From  one  with  hate  of  brother  in  his  heart. 
Help!     I  am  drenched  with  death  from  head  to  foot. 
Oh,  let  me  in  to  change  these  charnel  clothes 
For  something  warm  to  wear,  and  get  some  food. 
I  famish  with  both  hunger  and  the  cold. 

BERNARDO. 

Name  me  one  Amieri  who  did  aught 
To  draw  a  curse  from  heaven  upon  our  house. 

GINEVRA. 
You,  father. 

BERNARDO. 
I? 

GINEVRA. 

You,  father,  by  your  hate 
Of  Rondinelli  for  an  ancient  wrong. 

BERNARDO. 

What!     If  remembrance  of  a  fiendish  deed 
To  my  ancestor,  draws  a  curse  from  heaven, 
All  justice  is  but  mockery  of  itself. 
Avaunt,  deceitful  spectre,  that  would  take 
My  daughter's  saintly  semblance  to  torment 
Her  father,  as  he  ages  toward  the  tomb 
Of  his  ancestors  whom  he  hopes  to  meet ! 

GINEVRA. 

I  am  no  spirit !   Father,  feel  my  hand, 
My  face,  my  body.     Look, — oh,  look!  my  arm 
Has  no  plague  spot,  so  that  there  was  small  reason 
To  carry  me  so  quickly  to  the  tomb. 

BERNARDO. 

It  cannot  be  my  child.     How  can  it  be? 
I  saw  the  Plague  spot  and  they  shut  the  tomb. 


76  G1NEVRA 

GINEVRA. 

It  may  be  that  the  venom  of  the  Plague 
Was  in  Francesco's  grasp,  when  by  the  arm 
He  seized  me  and  bade  me  to  tell  him  where 
Antonio  was  hiding  in  my  house. 
It  made  me  weep.     It  may  have  left  a  mark, 
And  any  mark  will  answer  for  the   Plague's 
When  one  has  not  a  friend,  nor  relative. 
Who  cares  enough  to  take  a  second  glance. 
O  Father!  look  at  me.     Look  once,  once  only 
And  you  will  know  your  daughter  whom  you  held 
When  her  young  hand  was  chopped  off  at  the  heart 
Upon  the  block  of  marriage  to  Francesco. 

BERNARDO. 

Off,  hideous  fiend!     The  priest  shall  bless  this  house 
That  you  shall  never  trouble  it  again.    (Shuts  the  window.) 

GINEVRA. 

My  mother!  wake.     My  mother!     You  will  know 
Ginevra,  and  not  drive  your  daughter  back 
Into  the  night,  when,  coming  from  the  grave 
All  cold  and  weak,  she  needs  a  mother's  warmth 
And  tender  care,  as  when  a  new-born  babe ! 
Come !    look  upon  me !  oh,  one  glance  !  one  glance ! 
Come,  you  will  take  my  hand  and  clasp  me  close. 
My  mother,  oh,  my  mother !  why  not  come 
To  your  Ginevra  ?  You  will  recognize 
Her  features,  tho'  none  else  can,  as  you  did 
Long  years  ago  when,  having  strayed  from  home, 
She  played  within  a  churchyard,  and  when  night 
Fell,  cried  herself  asleep  upon  a  grave. 
Come,  wash  again  the  grave  dirt  from  my  face 
With  your  own  hands,  and  tell  me  once  again : 
"There !   now  you  do  look  like  my  precious  child." 
My  mother !  oh,  my  mother ! — then,  farewell ! 


G1NEVEA  77 

For  if  my  mother  fails  to  heed  my  call, 
All  hope  is  gone.    I  go  back  to  the  tomb, 
To  leave  which  was  a  rash  impiety, 
And  surely  it  has  met  swift  punishment. 
Lord !  pardon ;  I  shall  not  offend  again. 

(Gathering  up  her  remaining  strength  in  a  supreme  effort,  she 
goes  on  her  way  back  to  the  tomb.) 

CURTAIN. 


GINEVRA 


ACT    V. 


(The  tomb  and  street  scene  as  in  Act  III.     Ginevra  about  to 
enter  the  tomb,  looks  back  and  takes  a  few  steps  aside.) 

GINEVRA. 

Farewell  to  life.    The  sweetness  and  the  warmth 

And  all  the  nourishment  of  mother's  milk 

Were  once  in  every  object  in  the  world. 

I  drained  them  as  an  infant,  and  grew  strong; 

But  now  the  milk  in  everything  has  turned — 

I  like  its  taste  no  more.     O  mystic  Cross ! 

But  for  thy  comfort  to  my  soul,  I  fear 

That  I  would  beat  my  brains  out  on  the  tomb. 

Thou  bringest  hope,  for  oh,  thou  art  engraved 

Inside  upon  eternal  glory's  gate 

And  seen,  because  that  gate  has  opened  wide 

To  all  the  heavy-hearted  on  the  earth; 

And  who  is  heavier  of  heart  than  I? 

(Antonio  appears  on  the  street,  garbed  like  a  hermit  and  carrying* 

a  staff  and  a  scrip.) 

Is  that    a  footstep?    Does  it  fare  this  way, 
Or  like  all  others,  hasten  otherwhere? 

(Catching  a  glimpse  of  Antonio  she  raises  her  voice.) 
Oh,  is  there  not  one  Christian  soul  in  Florence 
To  take  compassion  on  my  woful  plight? 

ANTONIO   (halting) 

Ginevra's  voice  and  features !     Oh,  a  vision 
To  mock  my  heart  and  soul !    For,  laid  I  not 
Her  lifeless  body  on  the  catafalque? 
Oh !  is  my  eye  conspiring  with  my  ear 
Against  me  for  my  reason's  overthrow? 

GINEVRA. 

God!  is  there  nothing  open  now  to  me 
Except  the  tomb  in  which  they  shut  me  up? 

81 


82  G1NEVRA 

ANTONIO    (dropping   the  scrip   and 

approaching  her) 
Ginevra  ? 

(Startled  at  hearing   her  name  and  recognizing  Antonio,   she 
starts  in  alarm  toward  the  tomb.) 

Gentle  spirit!  vanish  not. 

GINEVRA    (turning   toward   him) 
Oh,  think  me  not  a  spirit  like  the  rest, 
Antonio!     Still,  would  you  had  not  come! 

ANTONIO. 

Oh,  flesh  or  phantom,  you  are  my  Ginerva ! 
Oh,  all  the  more  if  spirit — and  how  else? 
Your  faithful  fool  informed  me  of  your  death 
And,  when  I  reached  the  tomb  two  hours  ago, 
I  raised  your  lifeless  body  from  the  floor 
Where  they  had  cast  it. 

GINEVRA. 

I  awoke   and,  when 
I  tried  to  reach  the  door,  grew  faint  and  fell. 

ANTONIO. 

Oh,  had  I  waited  just  a  little  while, 
What  ages  of  acutest  agony 
I  might  have  spared  you !    For  to  you  entombed, 
A  second  must  have  seemed  a  century. 

GINEVRA  (sighing) 

Yes,  when  between  the  steps  of  halting  hope, 
A  second  is,  in  sooth,  a  century. 
My  cry  availed  not.    They  who  heard  me,  shunned. 

ANTONIO. 

I  left  the  tomb  just  long  enough  to  tell 
My  relatives  of  my  intent  henceforth 
To  dwell  a  hermit  here. 


G1NEVRA  83 

GINEVRA. 

Antonio ! 

Oh,  I  am  fearful  of  myself,  not  you ! 
So,  go  away!     I  pray  you,  go  away, 
Antonio!    Think  not  my  words  unkind. 
The  end  of  our  long  wait  is  not  far  off. 
Why  for  a  dew  drop  at  the  brink  of  death, 
Forfeit  the  ocean  of  eternal  joy? 

ANTONIO. 

I  came  back  to  abide  within  your  tomb 
Until  my  soul,  set  free  by  death,  might  join 
Your  blessed  spirit  in  the  happier  world ; 
And  now  I  find  you  far  from  me  as  ever. 

GINEVRA. 

Oh,  had  I  not  awoke  but  passed  beyond ! 
(The  White  Penitents  appear  chanting  the  "Misericordia."     At 

sight  of  Ginevra,  her  mother  breaks  from  the  ranks  and 

approaches  her  daughter.} 

MOTHER. 

My  God!     Is  that  Ginevra  whom  I  see? 
Is  that  my  daughter  whom  we  laid  to  rest? 
Speak,  oh,  my  daughter,  speak! 

GINEVRA    (gazing    straight    at    her 
mother  and  instantly 
turning  away) 
My  mother?     No! 

MOTHER  (with  eyes  and  arms  lifted 

toward   Heaven) 

Mother  of  Sorrows !  help  me !    Thou  wert  never 
Heart-pierced  by  a  sword  so  sharp,  for  thou  wert  never 
Denied  by  thine  own  child. 


84  GINEVRA 

GINEVRA  (lifting  her  eyes  and  hands 
to  Heaven) 
No,   no!     O    Mother 

Of  Sorrows!  For  thou  didst  not  deny  thy  child. 

When  He  sought  shelter,  thou  didst  give  it  Him. 

MOTHER. 
My  daughter,  who  denied  you  shelter? 

GINEVRA. 

You! 

MOTHER. 
I! 

GINEVRA. 

When  my  husband  drove  me  from  the  door, 
And  then  my  father  bade  me  not  return, 
You  heeded  not  my  cry. 

MOTHER. 

My  poor  Ginevra! 
You  talk  the  language  of  the  wildest  dream. 

GINEVRA. 

No  dream.     On  waking  in  the  tomb,  I  crept 
As  best  I  could  back  to  Francesco's  house. 

MOTHER. 

My  God!     I  was  not  there.     I  joined  these  folk* 
To  walk  barefoot  in  penance  for  my  sin 
In  putting  you  before  God  in  my  love. 

GINEVRA. 

Oh!  it  was  then  your  shoes,  I  found  still  warm. 

(Throws  herself  into  her  mother's  arms.) 
Forgive  me,  mother!  for  this  cruel  wrong 
That  I  have  done  you. 

MOTHER   (returning  her  embrace) 
My  Ginevra !  child  ! 
My  dear  dead  darling  come  to  life  again ! 


GINEVRA  85 

0  my  Ginevra  gone  from  me  for  ever, 

But  found  again !    Oh,  child  whom  I  once  more 
Find  in  the  churchyard,  and  take  home  with  joy!  ./•  ; 

(Takes  off  her  cloak  and  puts  it  on  her  daughter.) 

GINEVRA. 

1  feel  the  cold  but  little,  but  my  flesh 
Hangs  heavily  on  me  and  drags  me  down. 

ANTONIO    (approaching) 
This,  truly,  is  a  night  of  miracles 
Upon  the  earth  as  well  as  in  the  heavens. 

MOTHER  (amased) 
Antonio  Rondinelli  ? — Child,  come  home. 

GINEVRA. 

I  have  no  home. 

ANTONIO. 

Her  husband  cast  her  out. 

MOTHER. 
You  have  your  father's  home. 


GINEVRA. 

No ;    he   disowned   me, 
And  I  shall  look  upon  his  face  no  more. 

•  '  •  '     '     •' ', 

MOTHER. 

Come.     You  do  surely  wrong  your  father,  even 
As  you  wronged  me.    Come,  you  are  perishing. 

ANTONIO    (inpulsively  clasping      :: 

Ginevra) 

Come,  you  are  mine.     I  claim  you  by  the  right      .     :     •     :    f  ;! 
Of  rescue  from  the  tomb.    Be  dead  to  those 
Who  have  disowned  you.     They  have  set  you  free. 


86  GINEVRA 

MOTHER   (clutching  Ginevra  and 
addressing   Antonio) 

No!    I  would  rather  see  my  daughter  dead 
Than  go  with  you  while  yet  Francesco  lives. 

GINEVRA. 

Oh,  help  me  to  the  nearest  convent  gate. 
There  I  can  rest,  and  then  I  can  resume 
My  work  among  the  poor,  who  have  gone  crazed 
In  their  affliction  and  help  not  themselves, 
Nor  one  another;  else,  harm  more  than  help. 


ANTONIO. 

Oh,  noble  Soul !  true  to  the  last  to  others. 
(The  Black  Company  enters  with  a  body.    They  halt  before  the 

tomb,  kneel  in  silent  prayer,  and  chant  the  customary  hymn. 

Francesco,  followed  by  the  Jester,  comes  nervously  on  the 

scene  and  approaches  the  Company.) 


FRANCESCO. 

Entomb  the  body  quickly.     'Tis  no  wonder 
The  Plague  is  spread  thro'  Florence,  when  instead 
Of  burying  the  dead  without  delay, 
You  kneel  in  silent  prayer  and  chant  your  hymn. 
Make  haste,  now,  to  the  Amieri  vault. 

(Seeing  Francesco,  the  mother  approaches  the  bier  and,  lifting 
the  coverlet  from  the  face,  utters  a  piercing  shriek.) 

MOTHER. 

Bernardo!  oh,  my  husband!  noble  husband! 
What  has  befallen  you?    And  I  away 
When  at  your  bedside  I  was  needed  most 
To  help  you  to  prepare  your  soul  for  God! 

(Francesco  is  dumfounded  for  a  moment.) 
Your  father,  dear  Ginevra!  'tis  your  father! 


GINEVRA  87 

FRANCESCO. 

God!     Can  this  be  Ginevra  come  to  life? 
It  was  no  apparition  then  I  saw. 

(Without  looking  at  her  father's  face,  or  noticing  Francesco,  she 
lifts  up  the  lifeless  arm.) 

GINEVRA  (calmly) 
There  is  no  Plague-spot  on  this  arm. 

FRANCESCO  (excited) 

There  is! 

GINEVRA. 

I  know  the  mark  too  well  to  be  mistaken. 

FRANCESCO   (to  Black  Company) 
Haste  to  the  tomb.     How  dare  you  tarry? 

GINEVRA. 

'Tis 

No  more  the  Plague-spot  than  the  redness  was 
Upon  my  shoulder,  from  my  husband's  hand. 

(Antonio  lifts  up  Bernardo's  arm  and  uncovers  his  breast.) 

ANTONIO. 

These  marks  are  wounds.     Sword-thrusts  the  both  of  them. 

MOTHER. 

My  God!     Francesco,  has  your  argument 
About  Ginevra's  dower  with  poor  Bernardo 
Ended  in  murder? 

FRANCESCO. 

Murder  ?    No !    Bernardo 
Was  stricken  by  the  Plague.     The  Jester  saw 
The  Plague-spot  on  the  arm  and  tolled  the  bell. 

(To  Jester) 
Did  you  not  see  the  Plague-spot  on  the  arm? 


88  G I N  E  V  R  A 

JESTER. 

In  good  faith,  master,  I  saw  the  Plague-spot  on  Bernardo's 
arm,  for  being  a  good  servant,  I  found  what  I  was  sent  for. 

FRANCESCO   (sharply) 
Did  you  not  see  the  Plague-spot  on  the  arm? 

JESTER. 

In  faith,  good  master,  your  word  is  always  good  enough  for  me, 
for  it  gets  me  my  meals  and  shelter.  When  you  told  me  'twas 
there,  I  knew  it  without  looking.  I  have  no  curiosity  to  inspect 
a  plague,  for  it  is  a  dog  with  a  bad  name,  and  I  keep  out  of  its 
way.  I  tolled  the  bell  as  well  as  I  could,  for  my  arms  were 
tired  with  laying  down  the  law  as  President  of  the  Florentine 
Republic.  I  had  escaped  barely  with  my  life  from  the  honors 
thrust  upon  me,  when  I  reached  your  palace,  and  was  hardly 
able  to  differentiate  mumps  from  thumps  with  the  accuracy  of 
a  leech. 

ANTONIO  (breaking  the  suspense) 
Francesco  Agolanti !  'tis  your  work. 

FRANCESCO. 

What!     You,  Antonio  Rondinelli  here? 
Ginevra's  death  was  only  then  a  ruse, 
Concocted  by  you  both  when  you  were  cloistered 
Beneath  my  roof?    Oh,  I  was  truly  blind 
And  a  fit  butt  for  the  jest  and  laugh  of  Florence ! 

(The  Captain  of  the  Black  Company  steps  forth.) 

CAPTAIN. 

Ginevra  Amieri,  how  believe 
My  vision?  for  I  laid  you  in  the  tomb. 

GINEVRA. 

I  woke,  and  made  my  way  back  to  my  home, 
I  should  have  perished,  had  Antonio 
Not  heard  my  outcry. 


GINEVRA  89 

FRANCESCO  (exultantly) 

Why  should  he  not  hear  it  ? 
He  was  convenient,  as  of  course  arranged. 

GINEVRA. 
God  sent  him  here  to  save  me. 

FRANCESCO. 

Come! 
GINEVRA. 

I  ?     Never ! 

FRANCESCO. 

Ginevra,  I  command  you  by  the  right 
That  marriage  gives  me  to  obedience. 

CAPTAIN. 

Yours  was  no  marriage  in  the  sight  of  Heaven, 
But  an  abomination.     She  was  never 
Your  wife,  Francesco  Agolanti !     Never ! 
For  she  withheld  consent,  and  I  was  forced 
To  act  the  sacrilege  for  which,  since  then, 
The  tortures  of  the  damned  have  been  my  lot. 

FRANCESCO  (haughtily) 
By  what  authority  do  you  annul 
The  marriage  rite  which  you  yourself  performed? 

CAPTAIN. 

By  the  authority  of  Holy  Church,  \ 

Before  whose  Bishop  I  set  forth  the  truth 

In  all  its  horror.     For  my  human  weakness 

In  letting  worldly  prudence  interfere 

With  my  plain  duty,  I  have  been  condemned 

To  silence  for  ten  years  from  saying  mass, 

Which  was  the  greatest  transport  of  my  soul. 

FRANCESCO. 

Church,  or  no  Church,  Ginerva  is  my  wife.  ..-  • 

Come.  i 


90  G1NEVRA 

ANTONIO. 

She  shall  not.     Her  heart  was  ever  mine, 
As  well  you  knew,  and  now  her  hand  is  mine. 

FRANCESCO. 
Not  while  7  live. 

ANTONIO. 

You  cast  her  from  your  door ; 
I  take  her  to  my  heart.    You  made  her  life 
A  muffled  moan;  now  I  shall  make  it  song. 
Your  bloody  hand , shall  touch  her  not  again, 
And  you  shall  answer  for  her  father's  death. 

FRANCESCO  (about  to  draw  his  sword) 
It  shall  be  bloodier . 

ANTONIO. 

Draw  it  not,  base  wretch, 
Till  we  have  laid  Bernardo  in  the  tomb. 
The  dead  deserves  that  much  respect  from  you. 
(Francesco  drops  sword  and  turns  aside,  hearing  the  shouts  of 
the  revellers  advancing.) 

MOTHER  (bending  over  bier) 
Oh,  my  most  noble  husband,  sent  unshriven 
Before  your  Maker  by  a  murderer's  hand! 
Stabbed  in  your  slumber  surely!   for  awake, 
Your  skill  and  strength  would  have  foiled  any  foe. 
Oh,  may  God's  grace  have  reached  you!  may  one  tear 
Have  welled  up  from  your  heart  before  too  late, 
And  washed  you  white  of  black  or  scarlet  stain. 

CAPTAIN  (raising  mother  up  and 

pointing  to  the  cross) 

Rise,  daughter,  and  be  comforted.     Behold 
Mount  Calvary!     If  Christless  is  the  Cross, 
Miss  not  the  meaning  of  the  miracle. 
He  is  not  shown  in  anguish  on  the  Cross 
Because  He  has  descended  into  hell, 


G1NEVRA  91 

Of  which  unhappy  Florence  is  a  pit, 
To  loose  bound  souls  that  they  may  rise  with  Him. 
(Enter  the  Roysterers.) 

CHIEF  ROYSTERER. 

Francesco  Agolanti,  if  you  have  become  one  of  the  Black 
Company,  why,  in  the  name  of  common  reason,  don't  you  put  on 
their  moping  robes? 

FRANCESCO. 

Not  I.  I  am  now  a  free  man  and  ready  for  any  thing  you  wish. 
The  Presidency  of  the  Republic,  or  a  torch  for  every  palace  in 
Florence,  is  one  to  me. 

(The  Roysterers  applaud.) 

CHIEF  ROYSTERER. 

Good !  Good !  but  first,  fetch  us  to  your  wine  cellar,  for  our 
throats  are  parched  with  thirst.  The  wine  hue  from  the  Cross 
which  all  Florence  is  gaping  at,  only  maddens  us  that  it  doesn't 
turn  into  liquor  for  our  gullets. 

FRANCESCO  (with  false  gaiety  of 

tone) 

Come  along,  brave  fellows!  I  have  plenty  of  sparkling  ver- 
naccio  left,  though  not  a  devil  of  a  servant  to  hand  it  to  us. 

ROYSTERERS  (in  Chorus) 
We  will  help  ourselves. 

(They  follow  Francesco,  and  the  Black  Company  lifts  the  bier.) 

ANTONIO. 

Come,  mother,  for,  by  that  endearing  name, 
You  will  permit  me  to  salute  you  now, 
And  let  us  take  Ginevra  to  my  house,    • 
For  she  needs  nourishment  and  tender  care. 

MOTHER  (approaching  Captain) 
Good  priest,  inform  me  is  it  true,  indeed, 
The  marriage  was  annulled  by  Holy  Church? 


92  GINEVRA 

CAPTAIN. 
Most  true,  my  child. 

MOTHER. 

How  did  it  happen,  then, 
That  poor  Ginevra  was  not  told  of  it? 

CAPTAIN. 

I  do  not  know.    'Tis  sad,  but  still  most  true, 
That  gold,  the  root  of  evil,  branches  forth 
And  forms  dense  thickets,  covering  many  things 
Which  Holy  Church  intends  for  public  view. 
The  marriage  was  annulled;  that  much  I  know. 
Go  to  the  Bishop,  who  is  as  unyielding 
To  gold,  or  power,  or  craft,  as  truth  itself, 
And  he  will  gladly  show  you  his  decree. 

MOTHER. 
Thank  God,  my  children. 

(Antonio  and  Ginevra  embrace.) 

GINEVRA. 

Dear  Antonio! 

My  saviour!  for  I  know  no  other  name 
But  that  blest  one,  by  which  to  call  you  now, 
That  you  have  truly  raised  me  from  the  dead. 

ANTONIO. 

I  am  the  one  who  has  been  raised  from  death, 
Far  more  than  you,  Ginevra. 

GINEVRA. 

I  was  dead 

Since  you  were  taken  bleeding  from  my  house 
And,  then,  this  ring  was  stolen  from  my  keep. 
(Shows  the  ring.) 

ANTONIO. 

Dear,  faithful  soul!     Let  no  unhappy  thought 
Drag  back  from  night's  fast  hold  a  single  cloud 


G1NEVRA  93 

To  mar  the  morning  which  is  breaking  now. 
Let  us  think  only  how  we  can  thank  Him 
In  our  poor  human  way,  for  our  great  joy 
Which,  still,  is  sober;  for,  like  all  great  joy 
Upon  the  earth,  it  stands  beside  a  bier. 

MOTHER. 

"There  is  no  dark  in  life,  but  trust  in  God, 
If  it  step  boldly,  or  put  forth  its  hand, 
Will  find  a  marble  stairway  to  the  stars, 
Or  balustrade  to  check  its  headlong  fall." 
O  God !    I  put  my  hand  out  in  the  dark, 
Now  thick  about  me.    He  was  taken  off 
Without  a  chance  to  make  his  peace  with  Thee  $ 

By  casting  every  hatred  from  his  heart ! 

CAPTAIN. 

The  Cross  on  high,  that  strikes  the  world  to-night, 
Is  more  than  Moses'  wand.    It  smites  with  love, 
And  hearts,  though  hardened  into  rock,  well  forth 
In  copious  streams,  unseen  by  mortal  eye. 

MOTHER. 
Oh,  heart  more  kind,  or  true,  was  not  on  earth ! 

CAPTAIN  (after  a  pause) 
Brethren,  we  must  go  back.     We  must  return 
The  body  where  we  found  it  and  report 
Bernardo's  death  was  not  due  to  the  Plague. 
My  God!  what  awful  crimes  are  daily  done 
And  hid  beneath  the  cover  of  the  Plague! 
(The  Black  Company,  chanting,  carry  the  bier,  and  are  followed 
by  the  Mother,  Ginevra  and  Antonio.) 

JESTER  (watching  procession  dis 
appear) 

In  good  faith,  Antonio  Rondinelli,  your  tongue  has  now  good 
cause  to  be  glib.    You  can  well  say,  "Peace  to  both  our  houses," 


94  G1NEVRA 

for  you  are  out  of  the  hearing  of  Bernardo  Amieri.  Now  rises 
the  question  which  throws  all  other  questions  like  dishwater  out 
of  the  window — what  is  going  to  become  of  me?  Thus  said 
Caesar  when  he  saw  Brutus,  so  that,  in  good  sooth,  there  is  good 
historical  warrant  for  the  question.  Whose  fortunes  am  I  to 
follow?  If  I  follow  those  of  my  master,  Francesco  Agolanti, 
I  shall  surely  go  to  the  devil,  and  hell  is  not  the  place  for  me. 
Ha-ha !  There  are  too  many  damned  fools  there  already,  so  that 
even  the  President  of  the  Florentine  Republic  would  cut  no  figure 
there.  I  shall  stick  to  my  mistress,  like  Antonio,  and  thereby, 
hit  two  birds  with  one  stone ;  for  like  him,  I  shall  then  be  happy 
both  in  this  world  and  the  next.  Ha-ha!  ha-ha-ha-ha!  ha-ha! 
But  what  if  young  Rondinelli  should  bear  me  a  grudge  for 
snarling  at  his  approach  and  howling  for  his  absence  as  the  only 
bone  to  my  relish?  Ha-Ha!  I  have  it.  Good  intentions  on  my 
part  and  lack  of  wit  on  his  part.  I  played  the  dog  at  his  heels 
just  to  warn  him  to  keep  out  of  harm's  way ;  for  any  Christian 
Knight  who  was  good  enough  to  be  favored  by  my  mistress, 
Ginevra,  with  her  heart,  was  certainly  good  enough  to  be 
favored  by  her  dog  with  a  howl  when  calamity  was  at  hand. 
Ha-Ha!  I  shall  get  a  fine  coat  for  those  good  intentions  that 
I  should  have  had.  'Tis  by  such  a  swop  that  half  the  great  men 
of  the  world  get  their  gold  lace  and  velvet  doublets,  and  manage 
to  keep  themselves  from  running  about  stark  naked,  so  that  the 
poor  fool  is  no  worse  than  his  betters. 
(The  chanting  of  the  Black  Company  dies  away,  and  the  Jester, 

looking  up  at  the  Cross,  is  awe-struck  and  becomes  reverential 

in  his  tone  and  demeanor.) 

How  wonderful  that  Cross  is !  It  is  the  Glory  of  the  Lord  and 
its  brightness  is  too  great  for  me  to  look  upon ;  for  I  am  only  a 
poor  "publican"  like  the  one  spoken  of  in  the  Gospel.  Lord,  have 
mercy  on  me  and  on  every  other  poor  fool  in  the  world. 

CURTAIN. 


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